Tribune News Network
Doha
Malabar Gold & Diamonds, the sixth largest jewellery retailer globally with more than 355 showrooms across 13 countries, has been honoured with the prestigious India Gold Conference (IGC) Responsible Jewellery House Award for 2023-2024. This accolade, one of the most esteemed in the Indian jewellery sector, recognises Malabar Gold & Diamonds for its unwavering commitment to ethical sourcing and sustainability.
The award acknowledges Malabar Gold & Diamonds’ dedication to procuring responsibly mined gold and diamonds from legitimate sources, ensuring that every piece of jewellery is crafted with the highest standards of purity and integrity.
O Asher, managing director of India operations, Malabar Gold & Diamonds, received the award from Dr Sundaravalli Narayanswamy, chairperson of the India Gold Policy Centre, at a function held in Bangalore, India. Also in attendance were Sitaraman Varadarajan, business development head at Malabar Gold & Diamonds, Dileep Narayanan, bullion head at Malabar Gold & Diamonds, Sunil Kashyap, director of Finmet PTE Ltd, Praveen Baijnath, CEO of Rand Refinery, and Filsor Babu, Karnataka Regional head at Malabar Gold & Diamonds.
Speaking on the occasion, Malabar Group Chairman M P Ahammed expressed his gratitude and reaffirmed the company’s commitment to ethical practices. "We are deeply honoured to receive the Responsible Jewellery House Award from IGC. Gold and diamonds are treasured gifts, often exchanged during life’s most joyful moments, such as weddings and birthdays. We are committed to ensuring that these precious materials are sourced ethically, from legitimate origins, free from exploitation. Only then can these gifts truly embody the sanctity, purity and brilliance they symbolize. We uphold this commitment from the moment gold is mined to the final product reaching our customers.”
"The tenets of ethical and responsible business practices are something we have strongly adhered to here at Malabar Gold & Diamonds since our inception. From using only the most sustainably sourced raw materials in our jewellery to incorporating numerous environment-friendly features across our showrooms and offices, we have strived to be a model organization that embodies the spirit of a responsible brand,” commented Shamlal Ahamed, managing director of international operations at Malabar Gold & Diamonds.
Malabar Gold & Diamonds currently operates over 355 showrooms across 13 countries, employing around 21,000 people from 26 different nationalities. With more than 15 million satisfied customers from over 100 countries, the company offers world-class facilities in all its showrooms. O Asher added, "We ensure that the gold bars we buy and sell are responsible and fully legal. We use London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) quality certified London Good Delivery Bars (LGDB), Dubai Good Delivery Bars (DGDB) and HUID Hallmarked Indian Good Delivery Bars. Malabar Gold and Diamonds has already become a trusted jewellery brand in the world.”
"Throughout all of the 13 countries that Malabar Gold & Diamonds currently operates in, we have taken great care to ensure that the entirety of our operations is in strict compliance to the rule of land. The policies we have enacted in the avenues of Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Combating the Financing of Terrorism (CFT) have enabled us to position ourselves as a brand that is an integral part of society. These policies are routinely strengthened to remain a socially conscious and responsible organization,” commented Abdul Salam K P, vice chairman of Malabar Group.
ESG (Environmental, Social & Governance) initiative has been the primary commitment of Malabar Group since its inception in 1993, with 5 percent of net profits set aside towards such initiatives in each country of operations. The key focus is in the areas of Health, Hunger Free World, Housing, Education, Women Empowerment & Environment. The ESG goals of the organisation are periodically strengthened to remain a socially conscious and responsible organisation.