Mumbai -India"s gold jewelry exports during the first six months of the financial year that started April declined 2 per cent in value to dollar 2.28 billion compared with dollar 2.33 billion a year ago, the Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council said Wednesday. However, total exports of gems and jewelry during the period rose 16.7 per cent on year to dollar 11.04 billion driven by sharp increase in shipments of cut and polished diamonds. Cut and polished diamond exports during April-September rose 21.6 per cent on year to dollar 8.04 billion, the data showed. The country imported dollar 5.9 billion worth of rough diamonds in the six months, up 19 per cent from a year ago. In the fiscal year ended March 2008, India exported gold jewelry worth 5.6 billion, with the U.S. accounting for half of it. Gems and dollar jewelry exports rose 22 per cent to dollar 20.89 billion last fiscal year.