FWD Business - November - December​ ​​201​7​

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On July 1 the government of India adopted a new regime in the hopes of lightening the burden of the taxpayer and unifying the system. As is always the case with the Indian government, little thought went into policy and program before they are implemented and today, the lowly craftsman and artisan is left struggling for his livelihood. We explore the effects of the GST on the Handicrafts industry in the state in our cover story.

If there's one thing that Kerala has been associated with, apart from the Gulf Malayali, it's our affinity for all that glitters. Gold is not only the centre of attraction at every wedding, it is also a very big part of our culture. There isn't a single woman in Kerala who isn't in possession of at least a few pieces of jewellery, and for most the 'pavans' in the cupboard amount to quite a bit. This issue's Infocus delves into the alamarah and unveils the extent of this obsession and what it means for our economy.

Frequent flyers rejoice! The new aviation policy promises to come as a breath of a fresh air to the ailing sector and will probably help put wind beneath its wings. Apart from capping fares, the UDAN policy will also introduce new routes in remote locales. Everything and more on the matter in our Lead Story.

As the year draws to a close and the holiday season beckons, we await the coming of a new year, filled with new possibilities, new discoveries and new hope for every entrepreneur out there. On behalf of FWD Business, I'd like to wish all of our readers a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!