Indian Gold Book:Indian Gold Book - Gold Bars Worldwide

WORLD GOLD COUNCIL
The World Gold Council (WGC) is an international organisation formed and funded by leading gold mining
companies from around the world to increase the demand for gold.
Established in 1987, the WGC has offices worldwide. Its international headquarters is in London.
WGC India has been active since 1993. Its headquarters is in Mumbai.
WGC India undertakes advertising, promotional and PR programmes, as well as market research. It provides technical
support to major fabricators. It also liaises with government institutions, including the Reserve Bank of India, Ministry of
Finance and Bureau of Indian Standards.
Its market-related programmes to support the gold jewellery industry include the following:
TV and Press Advertising Programmes
Undertakes generic campaigns, as well as partly WGC-funded co-operative advertising campaigns with trade partners.
Encourages retailers to associate their showrooms with all promotional campaigns undertaken by the WGC.
PR Programmes
Undertakes extensive trade and consumer PR programmes. Encourages, for example, media coverage of gold demand
trends, gold jewellery fashion trends and the investment-related advantages of owning gold and gold jewellery.
Market Research
Undertakes trade and consumer research to assist in the formulation of appropriate promotional strategies.
Collection g
Launched in 2002 to stimulate gold jewellery purchases by the younger generation. More than 125 leading retailers now
stock the Collection’s wide range of innovative lightweight items, 25 g and less. All items are hallmarked.
Swarnanjali Jewellery Design Contest
Encourages designers to develop innovative designs under 3 categories: bridal, formal and casual. The top 10 designs in
each category are fabricated for national display in about 15 cities. Initiated in 1997, more than 15,000 designers have
entered the contests.
Hallmarking
Encourages leading retailers to hallmark their jewellery as part of a long-term programme. The Bureau of Indian Standards
(BIS) launched its national programme in 2000.
Gold Clubs
Encourages leading retailers, fabricators and wholesalers in major centres to establish Gold Clubs in order to discuss
important trade issues. Established in Mumbai and Chennai.
Shopping Festivals
Encourages groups of retailers to stage a “festival”, usually for a period of one month. WGC sometimes subsidises
advertising and promotion. The first festival was staged in Coimbatore in 1998. Festivals have also taken place in Mumbai,
New Delhi and Pondicherry.
Local Festivals
Encourages groups of retailers to create a jewellery collection for specific local festivals, such as Diwali, Pongal, Durga Pooja
and Onam in the appropriate region. WGC sometimes subsidises advertising and promotion. The first festivals were staged
in 1997.
Gold Exhibitions
Encourages groups of retailers, usually 15 - 20 from inside and outside the State, to display and sell their jewellery at an
urban venue. WGC sometimes subsidises advertising and promotion. Exhibitions have been staged since 1997.
Up-country Franchise Initiatives
Encourages major urban retailers to franchise their brand names and jewellery to less sophisticated retailers in smaller
towns. Initiated in the south in 2001.
Technical Education
Technical workshops and seminars have been held annually in 6 - 7 fabrication centres since 1996. Designed for domestic
fabricators and goldsmiths, exporters and students.
Publications
Available to leading trade entities.
Gold Demand Trends. Statistical review of the international gold market. Quarterly.
Gold. Magazine with articles relating to the gold market worldwide. Quarterly.
Gold Technology. Magazine with technical articles for fabricators. 3 - 4 times each year.
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