Prabhu dedicates Rs 1,000 Cr. Commerce & Industry Ministry projects to Nation

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New Delhi : Union Minister for Commerce & Industry and Civil Aviation Suresh Prabhu on February 22, 2019, dedicated to the Nation projects worth Rs 1,000 crore of the Commerce & Industry Ministry through video conference in New Delhi. The projects were inaugurated in 7 States and 2 Union Territories across the country.

Prabhu inaugurated skilling Common Facility Centre (CFC) in Udupi, Karnataka, and laid the foundation of CFC in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. He inaugurated two spices parks in Kota, Rajasthan, and Raebareli in Uttar Pradesh. He also inaugurated National Institute of Design (NID) campus in Jorhat, Assam, and Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh. IIFT campus was inaugurated at Kolkata, West Bengal, and Maidangarhi near Delhi, and Footwear Design and Development Institute (FDDI) in Banur, Chandigarh.

Prabhu said that the CFC in Udupi for traditional jewellery manufacture in South India will be able to produce world class talent in gem and jewellery business for around 1,200 jewellery units in an around Udupi. The CFC in Udupi has been established by the Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council of India (GJEPC).

The Coimbatore CFC has the capacity to train 50, 000 people in the unique jewellery manufacture like Kundan, Meenakari, Bidri, temple jewellery, filigree and Jadau jewellery. The gem and jewellery business in India is a USD 42 billion industry employing over 5 million people and it contributes 7 % of India’s total GDP. India is the largest diamond cutting and polishing centre in the world and 14 out of 15 diamonds set in jewellery worldwide are processed in India. India is the 5^th largest jewellery exporter in the world.

The Minister said that establishment of spices parks is a major initiative of the Ministry of Commerce, Government of India, to help farmers to get better returns for their produce and to ensure the quality of spices for exports. The elimination of intermediaries in the supply chain due to direct linkages facilitated by the parks will ensure better prices for the farmers informed by the Minister.

India is the largest producer and exporter of spices in the world. India produces more than 65 spices out of the 109 spices listed by ISO. Currently, India is holding significant share of 48 % in quantity and 43 % in value of the global spice trade. The parks will provide common infrastructure facilities for both post-harvest and processing operation of spices.

The IIFT campus in Kolkata offers full time MBA course with specific focus on international business actives leading to policy inputs, research activities, teaching and training for the development of eastern and north-eastern region. The campus has recently set up a centre for North Eastern studies.

The Banur, FDDI, campus at Chandigarh has been established with the total expenditure of Rs 100 crore funded by Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India. This is one of the 12 campuses of FDDI in the country, according to a PIB release.