It is the ninth centre of the National Institute of Fashion Technology Centre will accelerate development of skills of weavers, says Shankarsinh Vaghela Kannur: The Hon'ble Union Minister for Textiles Shri. Shankarsinh Vaghela inaugurated the NIFT Centre, Kannur and Laid the Foundation stone for the NIFT Office Buildings at Kannur. The Hon'ble Minister for Industries Shri. Elamaram Kareem Presided over the function held at Mangattu paramba, Kannur, on Saturday

On the occasion the Union Minister for Textiles Shri. Shankarsinh Vaghela said that the textiles industry needs to adopt the best practices and encourage focused research and development. Quoting various surveys, Shri Vaghela said that the Indian textiles and apparel industry is poised to grow significantly and contribute substantially in employment generation.

The Union Textiles Minister Shankarsinh Vaghela has said that the success of the Indian fashion industry depends on its rich repertoire of designs inspired from traditional crafts, state-of-the-art technologies and booming retail environment. Mr. Vaghela said that the 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. According to various surveys conducted the Indian textiles and apparel industry is poised to grow significantly and contribute substantially in employment generation In an endeavour to attain global dominance, the industry needs to adopt the best practices and encourage focused research and development it is here that NIFT which was initially set up as an academic institute for imparting fashion education plays a pivotal role to support the industry and produce well rounded professionals who are capable of biending into the global network and respond effectively to the new challenges of the fashion industry he said

The industry and infrastructure has been making rapid strides in Kerala industrial boom in kerala has spelt plethora of employment opportunities with its cottage industries alone providing to be the source of sustenance for over a million people. It is strategically located which makers it easily accessible by aerial routes and waterways. There are 108 lakh small scale industrial outfits and about five hundred and eleven medium sized and large scale industries in kerala In this scenario decision to open a new center at kannur was taken.

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 was 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. Shri. T Balakrishnan IAS, Principal Secretary (Industries & Commerce), Shri. Rajiv Takru IAS, Director General, NIFT Shri. P H Kurian IAS, Secretary (Investment Promotion) Shri. A P Abdullakutty M.P, Shri. C K P Padmanabhan M.L.A, Shri.M Prakasan Master M.L.A, Shri.K Sudhakaran M.L.A, Shri.Ramachandran Kadannappalli M.L.A, Shri.P Jayarajan M.L.A, Smt. K K Shailaja Teacher M.L.A, Shri. K K Narayanan, President, District Panchayat, Kannur, Smt.Ishita Roy IAS, District Collector, Kannur, Shri. Vadi Ravindran, Chairman, Thaliparamba Municipality, Shri.M Kannan, Ward Member, Thaliparamba Municipality, Shri.K P Sahadevan, Chairman, HANVEEV Shri. Saseendran, Kannur District Weavers Society Association, Shri. C Jayachandran, Textile Exporters Association, Shri.Mahesh Chandra Baliga, North Malabar Chamber of Commerce and Shir.S Ramnath, Managing Director, KINFRA were also spoke on the occasion.

The National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) was set up in 1986 under the aegis of the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India. It has emerged as the premier Institute of Design, Management and Technology, developing professionals for taking up leadership positions in fashion business in the emerging global scenario.

The Institute is a pioneer in envisioning and evolving fashion business education in the country through network of eight professionally managed centres at New Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Gandhinagar, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai and Raebarelii. Now in Kannur

NIFT has set academic standards and excelled in thought leadership by providing a pool of creative genius and technically competent professionals. The institute provides a common platform for fashion education, research and training.

Kinfra is the Nodel agency for the National Institute of Fashion Technology ( NIFT), Kannur.

Kerala Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (KINFRA) was set up by an Act of State Legislature in February 1993, aimed at accelerating the industrial development of the State by providing infrastructure facilities to industries. KINFRA's thrust has been to facilitate the development of industrial infrastructure in the State. The Industrial Parks developed by KINFRA have facilities like developed land or built-up space, dedicated power, continuous water supply, round the clock security, communication facilities, etc. thus providing ready-made manufacturing environment for easy start up of industrial units with minimum time and cost.

KINFRA has successfully completed over the past 14 years, 20 theme based Industrial Parks in Kerala in areas such as garments, infotainment, marine/ seafood, rubber, exports, electronics , Textiles, Bio-technology, food processing, and Small Scale Industries etc. Some of the notable achievements are the successful completion of India's first International Apparel Park at Trivandrum, India's first Export Promotion Industrial Park at Ernakulam, India's first Infotainment Park, the Kinfra Film & Video Park, at Trivandrum; India's first Food Processing Industrial Park at Malappuram and Hi-tech Park at Kochi.

Kinfra has also developed Small Industries Parks at Trivandrum, Ernakulam,Thrissur, Waynad, Kannur and Kasargod etc. It is developed under the Integrated Infrastructure Development Centre (IIDC) Scheme of the Department of Small Scale Industries, Government of India, in which a large number of units have established their manufacturing activities.

KINFRA acquires land at strategic locations for the orderly development of industries by balancing social, cultural, regional and ecological requirements. KINFRA's achievement over the years caters to the industry specific infrastructure requirements, by setting up a number of Industrial Parks/ Townships/zones etc, across the State.

The industry specific parks established by KINFRA provide ready-made manufacturing environment to facilitate easy start up of industrial units with minimum time and cost. There is also a Single Window Clearance mechanism inside the KINFRA Parks. It is constituted for the purpose of speedy issue of various licenses, clearances, and certificates required for various State enactments for setting up units in the Parks without any hassles.