Singapore jewellery firm plans expansion

An Indian-origin Singapore jewellery businessman is seeking to go global with plans to set up showrooms and retail outlets in Middle East and Europe and at international airports including one in Mumbai.
Rebranded Ishtara Jewellery is marketing made-in-India pure gold jewelleries in Singapore and its sister company Luvenus Jewellery is retailing international brands in global markets, owner and managing director Parthiban Murugaiyan said today.
The gold and diamond jewellery business is also exploring opportunities to set up showrooms and retail outlets in airports in the Middle East and Europe as well as Hong Kong.
Parthiban, has won a tender to set up a retail business in Mumbai airport and has approval from the Foreign Investment Promotion Board.

Ishtara and Luvenus jewelleries are custom-made mostly by craftsmen from India.
"We are catering to the younger generation of South Asian diaspora with fashionable jewellries by setting up showrooms and retail outlets globally, especially starting with airports," the 44-year-old businessman said.

The companies also source exclusive designs of international brands from manufacturers around the world.
Formerly known as Indian Jewellery Pte Ltd, the business has been importing Indian gold and diamond jewelleries for 20 years.
Parthiban has restructured the 30-year-old business pioneered by his father whose ancestors were goldsmiths and craftsmen in Karaikal, South India.
Singapore's annual gold jewellery sales is estimated at 9 billion Singaporean dollars.