People likely to opt for gold as safe investment option: Batra

Panaji, Nov 28 (UNI) Amidst widespread economic crisis across the globe, people are likely to opt for gold as a safe investment option, comapred to other alternatives, MMTC chairman and managing director Sajiv Batra said today.

Speaking to mediapersons here, after inaugurating the second edition of State's gold and jewellery show, 'Festival of Gold 2008', organised by MMTC Limited, Mr Batra said ''The six-day exhibition will be an opportunity to the customers to purchase a variety of jewellery, medallions and silverware from a wide selection comprising over 50,000 pieces, all under one roof.'' The exhibtion is supported by Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and is being organised in association with the World Gold Council and the Gitanjali group.

Mr Batra lauded the MMTC for its constant efforts to provide qualitative gold jewellery, with hallmark and purity, to their customers in the State.

A market study on jewellery conducted by BIS indicated a shortage of 13.51 per cent in purity from the declared purity across 16 towns of India. The shortage of purity in some cases was as high as 44.66 per cent, he added.

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