Maharashtra CM agrees to join forces with industry to build jewellery park in Mumbai

By

Isabelle Crossley

Published
Jun 7, 2021

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray gave his support to the Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council’s plan to build the ‘India Jewellery Park Mumbai’ designed to boost jewellery manufacturing. 

 
A delegation from the GJEPC met with Thackeray on June 4 at his residence in Varsha, Mumbai to request the support of the Maharashtra state government on the IJPM project, the GJEPC reported on its website. The delegation, led by GJEPC chairman Colin Shah, also included GJEPC vice chairman Vipul Shah, IJPM chairman Kirit Bhansali, and Committee of Administration member Russell Mehta.
 
Thackeray, joined in the meeting by a number of state ministers, responded positively to the GJEPC’s proposal. Thackeray called the project an, “iconic and visionary edifice with the potential to become a famous Mumbai landmark and tourist attraction in the state of Maharashtra,” the GJEPC reported. 

Thackeray advised the GJEPC to provide on-site low-cost housing facilities to workers as part of the project in order to prepare for any potential future lockdown-like situations. This could ensure that, if a future lockdown would occur, workers could continue their work in a safe, isolated environment, which would enable the industry to continue. 
 
The project aims to attract investments of more than Rs 14,000 crore ($1.9 billion) and make the Indian jewellery industry more competitive in the global market. The park will also create over one lakh jobs in Maharashtra, according to the GJEPC.