GIFT City Gets Smarter: IIFT’s New Campus Set to Shape Global Business Leaders

In a first for India's higher education and trade sector, the Ministry of Education has given its nod to the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT), New Delhi, to set up an off-campus centre at Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City), Gandhinagar. The move, announced on May 6, 2025, will further promote multidisciplinary learning and aid India's vision to become a global export hub.

Key Highlights

The new centre of IIFT will be housed on the 16th and 17th floors of GIFT Tower 2 in GIFT City, Gandhinagar.

It will provide IIFT's flagship MBA (International Business) programme, as well as short-term specialised training courses and research in international trade and related areas.

The approval came under Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956, after IIFT met criteria like a comprehensive development plan, faculty appointments, academic program planning, a plan for a permanent campus, and a cutting-edge library.

The move aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which seeks to encourage multidisciplinary, globally competitive education and widen access to quality learning.

Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, congratulated IIFT, terming the action a huge leap in building trade-ready talent for India's international aspirations. 

Why This Matters

The GIFT City campus is IIFT's fourth in India and is likely to be a key driver in developing a talent pool of skilled professionals in international business and export management. It will also fuel research and innovation in international trade, directly contributing to India's vision of increasing its global competitiveness.

About IIFT

Set up in 1963 within the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, IIFT is a leading international trade education institution. It is a Deemed to be University since 2002, NAAC A+ graded, and AACSB accredited, ranking it among the world's top business schools.

GIFT City, the country's first International Financial Services Centre, offers a strategic place for the new campus, converging academic prowess with the country's increasing aspirations in international trade and finance.

Sources: Adda247, ABP Live, Elets Digital Learning, Times of India, The Hindu BusinessLine, Campusutra