NIFT inaugurated in Kannur

Kannur, Apr 20: Ninth centre of National Institute of Fashin Technology was inaugurated here today by Union Minister for Textiles Shankarsinh Vaghela. He also laid the Foundation stone for the NIFT Office Buildings at Kannur. Minister for Industries Elamaram Kareem presided over the function held at Mangattu paramba, Kannur.

"The textiles industry needs to adopt the best practices and encourage focused research and development", said Shankarsinh Vaghela. Quoting various surveys, Vaghela said that the Indian textiles and apparel industry is poised to grow significantly and contribute substantially in employment generation.

"Opening of a NIFT centre in this district would accelerate development of competencies and the skills of the weavers in the critical areas essential for the traditional industry to compete with the modern, high-class design centres and business entrepreneurs."

India is making its presence felt in the global fashion scenario and its fast emerging as an intellectual and strong manufacturing base. The success of the Indian fashion industry lies in its wide repertoire of designs inspired from the rich craft traditions state of the art technologies and burgeoning retail environment the Union Minister said.

Moreover, Kannur is known for its handloom industry and skilled weavers who were deprived of good exposure in the design area, the Minister said. Considering the potential opportunities here, it was important that the entrepreneurs here were well informed about the latest trends and fashion in the textile market, he added.

Mr.Vaghela said that while the presence of NIFT would be instrumental in providing design and technology intervention and manpower development and training, the Textile and Apparel Park being set up at Nadukani near Taliparamba here would ensure infrastructure support to the industry.

In his presidential address, Industries Minister Elamaram Karim said that the State government had already given administrative sanction for allocation of Rs.58 crore for construction of the NIFT campus. The land had also been handed over by the State government, he said adding that the facilities at the Institute of Handloom Textile Technology at Thottada here would be provided to NIFT for beginning two batches of BF.Tech course in June.

He said that KINFRA, nodal agency for developing the campus, would ensure that there was no delay in completing the construction. The campus would be developed in two years.

OneIndia News