Karnataka plans jewellery outlets with own gold, brand name

Karnataka is planning to open jewellery retail outlets and sell them under its own brand name. The government is also planning to sell gold coins with the official state emblem in partnership with private jewellers. Karnataka is the only state in India that produces gold from its mines.

The government is exploring the possibilities of opening jewellery retail outlets by tying up with private jewellers. "The government is planning to produce jewellery like we make silk sarees and sandalwood soaps," Mines Minister Murugesh R Nirani told reporters after holding a meeting with jewellers association and designers.

“The initiative will help the government generate more revenue and add jobs. The retail outlets will be opened in tier-1 cities and, based on the market response, they will be extended to tier-2 cities, he added. The government will modernise its Hutti Gold Mines and increase the production capacity, the minister said. The government is also planning to set up an SEZ for jewellery and a jewellery park in Kalyana Karnataka (Hyderabad-Karnataka) region, the minister said.