Shillong, Oct 25: Union minister of textiles Giriraj Singh on Friday inaugurated the permanent campus of National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) Shillong and also attended 12th convocation ceremony of the premier institute.
Terming the occasion the beginning of a new journey for NIFT Shillong, he said, “Today marks a pivotal moment for NIFT Shillong, where we not only inaugurate a state-of-the-art campus but also celebrate the culmination of years of hard work by our graduates. Your journey does not end here; it begins anew.”
Calling upon the students to embrace the challenges ahead, he said, “Strive to innovate and inspire. The future of fashion is in your hands.” Altogether 123 fresh graduates were accorded degrees at the convocation ceremony.
Meanwhile, the union minister highlighted significant contribution of the north-eastern region to the textile sector, noting that handloom, technical textiles, and handicrafts account for over ₹45,000 crore in exports.
“The Northeast plays a vital role in our billion-dollar market,” he stated, reinforcing the notion that the region is essential to the department’s identity. Outlining his vision for future of India’s textile sector, he emphasised the importance of innovation and the role of the North East in the country’s textile industry.
He also highlighted the need for technology in design, stating, “If our students create beautiful designs through hard work, we must equip them with tools and technology to protect their creativity.” Lauding NIFT’s pioneering initiative VisionNxt, he said the indigenous trend-forecasting initiative would fulfil the fashion aspirations of the people of the country.
He expressed hope of India being recognised by its Bharat brand and green sustainable textile products on the world stage as he urged the students, “Whichever company or brand you work with, take the Bharat brand with you wherever you go.”
Recounting his conversation with Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, he noted, “After
agriculture, the most significant employment opportunities lie in textiles.”
The union minister explained the potential of textile industry, saying, India’s textile industry is expected to grow to 350 billion US dollars by 2030 generating crores of jobs in the process.
He also announced plans establish NIFT campuses outside India. The programme was also attended by union MoS external affairs & textiles Pabitra Margherita and state minister in-charge textile Paul Lyngdoh among others.
