UP Govt drafts blueprint to develop Meerut as a major jewellery manufacturing and trading hub

Boosting the State’s Rs 1 trillion gems and jewellery industry, plans have been formulated to include a 32,000-square-meter manufacturing complex. The jewellery sector, vital to exports, supports over one million workers across key cities in the State

Meerut: The Uttar Pradesh government has developed a blueprint to establish Meerut as a leading jewellery manufacturing and trading hub for North India. Meerut’s jewellery sector already generates over Rs 2,000 crore in turnover and supports approximately 40,000 goldsmiths, jewellers and traders.

The Yogi Adityanath government is setting its sights on boosting the state’s gems and jewellery industry, which is valued at over Rs 1 trillion annually. The sector, involving more than one million traders, craftsmen, retailers, and designers, plays a vital role in manufacturing and exports. Major hubs for the industry include Meerut, Lucknow, Noida, Moradabad, Kanpur and Agra.

“The proposed hub, covering 32,000 square meters, aims to make Meerut a key centre for gems, precious stones and gold jewellery,” a senior official from the UP government stated. Plans include building a modern, multi-storey factory complex to promote business growth and foster new start-ups in the industry.

Meerut has a long history of craftsmanship, and the jewellery industry has been an important part of the city’s economy for decades. The region has evolved into a significant centre for the manufacture of gold, silver and imitation jewellery.

One of the core strengths of Meerut’s jewellery manufacturing industry is its skilled labour force. Many artisans in the city have inherited jewellery-making skills passed down through generations, which is seen in the high standard of work in the products. The workforce is proficient in intricate handcrafting, including engraving, filigree work and stone setting.

Currently, the organized segment of Uttar Pradesh’s gems and jewellery market accounts for about 35% of the Rs 1 trillion industry. Saumitra Saraf, director of Gorakhpur-based Aisshpra Gems and Jewels, highlighted the region’s thriving wholesale jewellery market. His company is investing Rs 100 crore to create an integrated jewellery manufacturing hub in Gorakhpur.

The gems and jewellery sector accounts for 10-12% of India’s total merchandise exports, making it one of the country’s top commodity segments. In 2023, the domestic market for gems and jewellery was valued at $92 billion.

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