A large number of orders pouring from the UAE, Hong Kong and the US markets pushed export of gems and jewellery from India by 55 per cent during the month of November following increase in demand due to Christmas buying. The sudden rise in exports brought cheer for the recession hit Indian exporters, facing the heat of global slowdown.

Export surged to $2.14 billion during the month compared to $1.38 billion in the corresponding period last year. Pankaj Parekh, Chairman of the Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) - Eastern Region, added, "Since Hong Kong and the UAE are two important hubs for third country exports, the spurt in our exports in November indicates a slow economic turnaround in some countries of West Asia and Southeast Asia."

The recent rise in export helped to arrest the total slippage in exports to just 1.02% on a cumulative basis in India. The export figures also got strength as exports from SEZs in Chennai and Vizag was also taken in to account while preparing the final export data, GJEPC said in a statement.