Mumbai: The gems and jewellery industry is likely to face challenging times ahead following the hike in gold import duty to 15 per cent, from 4 per cent earlier, a move that could spur the grey market, the All India Gems and Jewellery Council (GJC) said on Wednesday.
"Business is now going to become difficult on the back of the Prime Minister's austerity measures and following the import duty hike in bullion. What the industry fears is that this will give rise to grey market... smuggling is likely to grow, setting up a parallel economy in the country," GJC chairman Rajesh Rokde told PTI.
