Udupi soon to have ’Indian Institute of Gems & Jewellery’.

Mangalore Today News Network

Apr 16, 2017 Reports state that to give India an edge as a preferred source for quality gems and jewellery, the Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council of India (GJEPC), Mumbai, under the Union ministry of commerce is setting up Indian Institute of Gems and Jewellery (IIGJ) at Udupi.

After Mumbai, Delhi, Jaipur and Varanasi, the coastal city will get the fifth IIGJ of the country and first in south India. The new facility at Udupi aims to enhance artisans’ skills.

Explaining why the centre is being established in south India, Sanjoy Ghosh, head, IIGJ, told STOI that this part of the country has been one of the major jewellery markets. However, there are not many skilled artisans in this trade and that’s why the centre is being set up at Udupi. "We are investing Rs 7 crore on Udupi facility, which is expected to start soon," he said.


In the initial stage, IIGJ will start functioning in a 4,000 to 5,000 square feet site and expand it depending on demand. The centre will have three stages of training; office, supervisor and managerial level. In the beginning, the Udupi facility will have only the first level of training.


South Indians usually use superior quality diamonds in jewellery making. Through such skill centre, GJEPC aims to popularize less quality diamonds in this part of the country. Apart from it, through skill India initiative, the centre will also strive to provide job opportunities for youngsters from the region. Trained youths can set their own jewellery design shops, he averred.


The government’s Assistance to States for Infrastructure Development of Exports (ASIDE) scheme will provide assistance of 50 per cent , he said. The primary objective of GJEPC in setting up IIGJ is to promote Indian gems and jewellery abroad, thereby enhancing exports from India along-with the ’Made in India’ brand image.