The South India Bullion Association (SIBA) formally launched and inaugurated its newly elected team at a gathering held at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Chennai, on September 27, 2026.

Surabi Karthik of Surabi Bullion, Coimbatore, took charge as President, alongside Ankit Jain of DP Gold Pvt Ltd as Secretary, Mukesh Badola of AMS Bullion as Executive Vice President and K. Srinivasulu of SLN Bullion as Treasurer.

The inauguration was attended by prominent industry representatives. Chief Guest, Rajesh Rokde , Chairman, GJC, Avinash Gupta, Vice Chairman, GJC, Ashok Gautam, MD & CEO, IIBX, were listed as the Chief Guest and Guests of Honour for the occasion.

The Special Guests included B. Sabarinath, President, Tamil Nadu Jewellery Federation and Coimbatore Jewellery Association; Jayanthilal Challani, President, The Jewellers & Diamond Traders Association, Madras; and Ashok Kumar Jain, Charter President, Chennai Wholesale Jewellers Association at the launch of Official Website – SIBA.

The event also featured B. Muthuvenkatram, President, Coimbatore Jewellery Manufacturers Association; Senthil Srinivasan, President, Gold Bullion Association, Coimbatore; and V K Manoj, Project Director, United Exhibitions, among the eminent guests who unveiled the logo of SIBA.

The programme included the inauguration of elected members, felicitation of guests and members, the launch of SIBA’s official website and logo, and keynote addresses by industry leaders.

With the theme “One United Force”, SIBA brings together bullion houses across five states, with a stated focus on unity, trust, knowledge, discipline, industry representation and collective growth.

Surabi Karthik Surabi Bullion Coimbatore, TN Elected President-

“Driving unity, trust and progress in the bullion industry across South India.” With a vision for a stronger and more collaborative ecosystem, we continue to inspire collective growth, excellence and meaningful connections across the industry. Our next-generation programme is dedicated to the sons, daughters and young dealers entering the bullion trade, empowering the future generation to carry forward the standards, values and legacy of the industry and lead these businesses into the future.

Rajesh Rokde, Chairman, GJC__

“SIBA has the potential to grow beyond South India and emerge as a strong national force for the bullion industry. In a changing market, we have two choices—to complain about change or to understand it and turn it into an opportunity. The future of our industry lies in unity, trust, compliance and collective action. Just as individual grains of soil come together to form a brick, bricks build walls, walls build homes and communities, our collective strength can build a stronger industry and a stronger nation. The journey has just begun—the sky is yet to be seen.”

Avinash Gupta, Vice Chairman, GJC __

“As GJC, we are proud to welcome SIBA as a new organisation and wish it tremendous growth. The bullion industry has evolved from being built on trust alone to one where trust must be supported by strong compliance. With increasing challenges around purity, cash transactions and regulatory scrutiny, it is essential for bullion dealers to follow KYC and PMLA guidelines diligently and minimise cash transactions. At the same time, technology must serve the trade responsibly.

B2B and B2C markets have different requirements, and bullion trading platforms should ensure that trade-specific pricing remains accessible to verified traders. Strong compliance, responsible technology and collective effort will be key to building a more transparent and sustainable bullion industry.”

The inauguration marked a new chapter for SIBA as it seeks to build a stronger, more informed and collaborative bullion ecosystem across South India.