The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee, will inaugurate the 50 years Celebrations of the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) here tomorrow. IIFT, a national institute of excellence completes its 50 years of eventful existence on May 2 2013.

Shri Anand Sharma, Union Minister for Commerce, Industry and Textiles and Dr. D. Purandeswari, Minister of State in the Ministry of Commerce & Industry will be the Guests of Honour and Shri S R Rao Chairman, IIFT & Commerce Secretary will participate in the Function. Dr. Surajit Mitra, Director, IIFT will address the dignitaries.

To mark respect to knowledge that the Institute inculcates in the minds of youth, the Institute has exclusively conceptualised and designed a sculpture ‘Wings of Wisdom’ by Mr. Gagan Vij, which will be unveiled by Shri Mukherjee tomorrow. This wings of wisdom symbolises the spirit of freedom; the knowledge to scale success in life; and the path to spirituality. The Statue holding a book in its hand and stacking number of books on its wings further epitomises that only through wisdom how the students of the Institute are able to fulfil their goals in life.

The Institute will also release a Commemorative Volume of Foreign Trade Review (FTR), a quarterly journal published by IIFT, in which scholarly writings of Present President and Present Prime Minister are included, during the occasion. The journal is 47 years old and has contributed to the gamut of knowledge in the field of international trade. The publication is dedicated to all the policy makers, professionals and academicians who contributed to the success of the journal. The President of India will also felicitate the past Directors General and Directors who have had provided leadership to the growth of the Institute.

IIFT over the years have responded to the need of the time and started the Centre for Latin American Studies way back in 1971, Centre for International Trade in Technology in 2001, Centre for WTO Studies in 2002, and Centre for SME Studies in 2005. It proposes to initiate new Centres in the area of Energy and Power, besides financial services shortly. The Institute further aims to broaden its horizon by creating many more new centres which will be announced on that day.

DS

(Release ID :95380)

Institutional anniversary marks IIFT's golden jubilee with inauguration, unveiling of commemorative sculpture and academic publications. The Indian Institute of Foreign Trade will mark its fiftieth anniversary with a presidential inauguration, unveiling of the 'Wings of Wisdom' sculpture, felicitation of past directors, and release of a commemorative volume of the Foreign Trade Review. The institute highlights its historic creation of specialised centres for trade-related research and announces imminent expansion into new centres including Energy and Power and Financial Services to broaden its academic and research offerings.