An Indian company has launched what it says is the world’s first “cash machine” that dispenses gold and silver coins and diamond-studded jewelry.
The Gitanjali Group launched the Gold and Diamond automatic teller machine (ATM) at a central Mumbai shopping mall for the annual Hindu festival of lights, Diwali, last Wednesday.
Diwali is traditionally an auspicious time for Hindus to buy gold and jewelry while Indians are the world’s biggest importers and consumers of the precious metal.
Photo: AFP
照片:法新社
“The machine is a first of its kind anywhere in the world and will further revolutionize the processes by which precious metals and jewelry is bought,” said Gitanjali Export Corp chief executive Sanjeev Agarwal.
The ATM offers customers the choice of up to 36 products of varying sizes, designs and prices, from 1,000 rupees (NT$600) to 30,000 rupees (NT$18,000). Payment is either through credit or debit card or by depositing cash.
The company said in a statement that the machine was “ideally suited for last minute purchases on auspicious occasions and for gifting.”
Gitanjali, which runs a chain of jewelry shops across India, said it plans to install more machines in the coming months in shopping malls, airports and temples.
Indians bought 540 tonnes of gold in the first half of this year, up 21 percent from the same period last year, according to data from industry body the World Gold Council.
(AFP)
印度一間公司已推出一款號稱世界首台可以吐出黃金、銀幣以及鑲鑽珠寶的「現金機」。
印度吉檀迦利集團上週三,就在每年舉辦的印度節慶「排燈節」期間,在孟買市中心的一間購物商場,推出黃金與鑽石自動櫃員販賣機。
傳統上在「排燈節」期間,是印度人買黃金與珠寶互相餽贈的良辰吉時,而印度人是世界最大貴金屬的進口者與消費者。
吉檀迦利出口貿易公司執行長山吉夫‧安加瓦表示:「該機器是世界首見,它將會進一步改革人們購買貴金屬與珠寶的過程。」
這台自動櫃員機提供消費者多達三十六種大小、設計與價格不一的商品,價格從一千盧比(新台幣六百元)至三萬盧比(新台幣一萬八千元)不等。消費者可用信用卡、消費金融卡或是存入現金付款。
這間公司在一份聲明表示,該機器「對於臨時在喜慶場合要找禮物的人士,這台販賣機再適合他們不過了。」
在印度各地經營珠寶連鎖商店的吉檀迦利公司表示,他們將在未來數個月內,在各大百貨商場、機場,以及廟宇,規劃設置更多這種販賣機。
根據世界黃金協會的統計資料,印度在今年第一季買進五百四十公噸的黃金,比去年同期成長了百分之二十一。
(法新社/翻譯:林亞蒂)
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