Indian Institute of Foreign Trade celebrated its Diamond Jubilee Celebrations on its 60th Foundation Day on 2nd May 2023. The event commenced with lighting of lamp and a welcome address delivered by Dr. P.K. Gupta, Registrar, IIFT.
In his address, Dr. Gupta said, since its establishment in 1963, IIFT has proactively seized all available opportunities to emerge as an acknowledged centre of excellence in international trade and business. During this period, it has diversified its role from being a think tank institution to a key repository of knowledge in international trade, apart from being the premier business school in the country. The IIFT has grown at a phenomenal rate in the first two decades of the new millennium.
On this graceful occasion, IIFT remembered the visionary leaders who laid the foundations through perseverance and diligence that enabled IIFT to achieve such remarkable heights, especially the founder Director General Late Shri H D Shourie.
In the journey of 60 years, IIFT has added many feathers to its cap from being ranked consistently amongst the top business schools, achieving AACSB accreditation to offering an impressive array of innovative MDPs/EDPs offered by the Institute. From July 2023 onwards, Institute would also be operationalizing another IIFT Campus in GIFT City, Gujrat. The INI Status to IIFT is expected to be granted through an Act of Parliament this year.
On this significant occasion, Prof. Satinder Bhatia, Vice-Chancellor in her keynote address also remembered Late Shri HD Shourie, the founding Director General. She mentioned that he was the father figure to IIFTians, who laid the foundation of IIFT with the motto, ‘Excellence is a way of life’. Since its founding, IIFT has worked tirelessly to improve itself and achieve excellence. She said, "Today we should honour those who have contributed to achieving the vision that IIFT was founded with and reaching IIFT's height among top B-schools in India. IIFT has achieved many milestones and it is serving the nation in the field of international business''.
She said, in order to meet the requirements of the modern industrial/business era, IIFT's Delhi and Kolkata campuses have undergone many transformations in their academic and administrative set-up and in the training of faculties, students, and staff. The same way, newly inaugurated Kakinada campus will achieve excellence very soon. IIFT has many academic and administrative collaborations to work continuously in the direction of its vision and mission. With this, IIFT has become the place to attract industries, students, and other stakeholders. Prof. Bhatia welcomed all the invitees, retired faculties and staff.
On this occasion, IIFT hosted a Hindustani Classical Music Concert by Dr. Sangeeta Shankar and Shri Abhishek Mishra. Dr. Sangeeta Shankar is a world renowned violinist and maestro of repute, adorned with the Sangeet Natak Academy award in 2021 from the President of India. Abhishek Mishra is one of the most uniquely gifted tabla player from the great Banaras Gharana, and an "A" grade artist in All India Radio and Doordarshan.
During the event, VC, IIFT released the commemorative issue of Foreign Trade Review (FTR) Journal. At the end of the event, Dr. Bhatia presented souvenirs to retired employees of IIFT.
Stay informed, Stay ahead and Stay inspired with MBA Rendezvous.