Union Minister of Commerce & Industry Suresh Prabhu on Friday dedicated to the Nation 1000 crore worth of projects 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.

Commerce Minister inaugurated skilling Common Facility Centre (CFC) in Udupi, Karnataka and laid the foundation stone on CFC in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu.

He also inaugurated two spices parks in Kota, Rajasthan and Raebareli in Uttar Pradeshand a 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.

On the occasion, 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 businessfor around 1200 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 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.

Prabhu said that for India to transform itself to a confident and prosperous nation the Ministry of Commerce and Industry is working tirelessly to improve skilling in various sectors so that India becomes a part of global value and supply chains.

Design today is an integral part of any product and for the multitude of superior handmade products fashioned by India’s artisan’s designs of international standards will be a game changer for them.

He further said that the NID campus in Jorhat, Assam, will now open up the world to the highly skilled artisans especially women who produce high quality handmade products in the North East region of the country.