With the view to bring awareness on the issues of patents, design and trademark amongst the diamantaires, the Gems and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) has organised an awareness programme in support of ASSOCHAM and the Controller General of Patents, Design and Trademarks in the city on January 31.

With around $28 billion worth of polished diamond export, India is currently the leading diamond cutting and polishing hub mixing modern techniques with traditional know-how. Eventually, it became one of the largest consumers of polished diamond after U.S. and Japan.

Industry sources said that the trade secrets have been passed down many generations to sustain the traditional craft. Though the patenting activity in India has grown significantly in the recent years, there are very less patenting applications filed by the people from the industry and that Indian gem and jewellery industry needs to formulate its patenting strategy carefully to stay competitive.