Seeking to leverage position as the largest gold-consuming state, the state government has unveiled plans to develop the Kochi–Thrissur belt into a major jewellery manufacturing corridor and establish a dedicated gold exchange hub.
The initiative, which was announced in the State budget by Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan, aims to strengthen value addition within the State, create skilled employment opportunities, and position Kerala as a global centre for jewellery design, manufacturing, and trade.
The budget has allocated ₹10 crore for this project.
TS Kalyanaraman, Managing Director, Kalyan Jewellers, said the proposal to develop the Kochi-Thrissur corridor as a Global Gold Hub is particularly significant for the jewellery sector. It reflects a strong commitment to strengthen Kerala’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and would support the artisans, craftsmen and small businesses.
Thrissur is already recognised as the gold capital of India. With the right infrastructure, policy support and global connectivity, this initiative can elevate the region into an internationally renowned centre for gold craftsmanship, innovation and excellence, he said.
“We are excited about the opportunities this vision presents and look forward to contributing to Kerala’s next phase of growth and prosperity,” he added.
K. Surendran, president and S. Abdul Nazar, general secretary of the Kerala Gold and Silver Merchants’ Association, said the corridor will make Kerala a major gold and jewellery hub and give a new impetus to the gold and jewellery industry. This will help bring back gold manufacturers from Kerala, who have migrated to other states.
The association had earlier submitted a proposal to set up a Gem and Jewellery Park to host the entire gold and jewellery manufacturing and distribution sector under one umbrella. The Park will have facilities such as jewellery manufacturing units, design centres, colleges, gemology institutes, grading centres, bullion banks, training schools, accommodation for workers and so on.
Joy Alukkas, Chairman & Managing Director, Joyalukkas Group, said that the global gold hub initiative is expected to elevatethe State’s gold trade by introducing world-class infrastructure and a dedicated economic ecosystem for the jewellery and precious metals sector. This marks a transformative moment for the industry and will turbocharge State’s jewellery landscape through enhanced logistics, reduced costs, and formalised trade channels. This move will position Kerala as a future global jewellery hub by attracting investment in scale, creating jobs, and driving sustainable economic growth across the state, he added.