Shillong, May 29: Union Textiles Minister, Smriti Zubin Irani on Tuesday praised the performance of National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) here and urged the youth to make future and contribute to make a new world for themselves and a new India.

Attending

​​NIFT’s 7th Convocation held at NEHU here, Irani congratulated the students of the institute and said that the value of fashion industry is huge in today’s world.
“The value of Indian fashion industry in 2016 was Rs 20,000 crore and that of the individual economic growth of Indian designers was Rs 1000 crore,” she said.

Praising the performance of NIFT students, the minister said that the efficiency of this institution can be imagined by the fact that 80 per cent of designers in India pass out of NIFT.

“Time has come to stand out as different from others. Today we have a whole generation of new designers with best wishes and a grand future. But the key ingredients to success that will differentiate you from others, is absolute competence. Hone that skill as competence is very rare,” she advised.

Telling the students that future is wide open, she urged them to contribute to make a new world for themselves and a new India for their country men and women.

“When your parents look at you, they recognize that they have not only invested upon you but also on the future of India,” Irani said as he ended her speech.

During the function, the Minister handed over certificates and prizes to students who emerged as best designers.

Meghalaya Home Minister, James K. Sangma, Health Minister, A.L. Hek, NEHU vice chancellor, prof S.K Srivastav and other dignitaries also attended the convocation.