The Indian gold industry has today announced the formation of the Indian  Association for Gold Excellence and Standards (IAGES – pronounced as I-AAY-GES), a self regulatory organisation (SRO) created by the Indian gold industry, for the Indian gold industry and  supported by the World Gold Council.  

IAGES will aim at increasing consumer confidence and enhancing trust in the Indian gold industry  through encouraging adoption of fair, transparent and sustainable practices, regulatory compliance,  establishing code of conduct and introducing an audit framework – created by the Indian gold industry,  for the Indian gold industry across the entire industry value chain. It will be inspired by the World Gold  Council’s Retail Gold Investment Principles IAGES will aim to give gold providers a detailed set of  best practices and a road map for implementing them. 

IAGES will be formed by national industry associations including Indian Bullion and Jewellers  Association (IBJA), All India Gems and Jewellery Council of India (GJC) and Gem and Jewellery  Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) and supported by the World Gold Council.  

IAGES logo represents coming together of various stakeholders of the Indian industry for the greater  good of the gold industry and colour red denotes purity, commitment and represents India’s warm  diversified culture.  

IAGES will be independently governed and professionally managed. The Code of Conduct created by  it will be available for everyone from the industry, however, its adoption will be entirely voluntary. The  registrations for IAGES membership will be announced soon and the organisation will be operational  by early 2025. 

Sachin Jain, Regional CEO, India, World Gold Council, said, “The gold industry is integral to the  Indian economy, contributing approx. 2% to Indian GDP and 3-5mn in employment. The World Gold Council has been promoting a need for creating a Self-regulatory  organisation to promote adoption of best practices. The launch of IAGES marks a pivotal step towards enhancing trust for the Indian gold industry. Self-regulation will help empower stakeholders to build a  sustainable and trusted gold market. We  at the World Gold Council are fully committed to supporting IAGES. It is a unique initiative and global  gold industry will be watching it, it should help propel India’s gold market to global prominence.” 

Vipul Shah, Chairman, Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC), said, “The  formation of IAGES is a landmark achievement for the Indian gold industry. It underscores our collective  commitment to establishing the highest standards of ethics, transparency, and sustainability. By creating  a self-regulatory body, we are taking a proactive step to build trust and confidence among Govt.,  consumers, investors, and international stakeholders in the Indian gem & jewellery industry. IAGES will not only strengthen India’s position as a global gold hub but also drive innovation and growth within the  industry.

Saiyam Mehra, Chairman, All India Gems and Jewellery Council of India (GJC); “All India Gem &  Jewellery Domestic Council is honoured to be associated with the IAGES. IAGES is surely the need of the hour, and this collaboration  represents a significant step towards advancing the standards of excellence and transparency within  the gold industry in India.

Prithviraj Kothari, National President, India Bullion and Jewellers Association (IBJA); “The  establishment of IAGES marks a significant milestone for the Indian gold sector, showcasing our united  dedication to upholding the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and sustainability. Through the  creation of a self-regulating entity, we are proactively fostering trust and confidence among  governmental bodies, consumers, investors, and international partners within the Indian gem and  jewellery domain.