Industry-led skilling programmes can transform lives and create opportunities, says Nirmala Sitharaman

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday, said the Indian Institute of Gems and Jewellery (IIGJ)-Udupi stands as a strong example of how industry-led skilling programme can transform lives and create opportunities for youth across southern India.

Speaking after unveiling IIGJ-Udupi as a new centre of excellence at Udupi, Ms. Sitharaman said the institute is empowering students from Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and beyond with employable skills, entrepreneurial opportunities and pathways to prosperity. The occasion comes at a time when the jewellery making sector in India is rapidly expanding, while there is strong demand for Indian jewellery in West Asia, the United States of America and other countries.