Artificial Intelligence, technology, and innovation will be the key drivers of India’s growth story, said Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal while addressing the 58th IIFT Convocation in New Delhi. He congratulated the graduating class of 2025 and urged them to use their skills and vision to contribute to Viksit Bharat 2047.
Speaking at the IIFT Convocation, the Minister said India’s destiny lies in the capable hands of its youth. He called the event a moment of pride and reflection, marking students’ transition from academics to real-world challenges.
Addressing the IIFT Convocation, Goyal highlighted that despite global “VUCA” challenges, India’s youth have the agility, boldness, and vision to lead the nation’s growth story.
Congratulating the 709 graduating students at the IIFT Convocation, the Minister expressed confidence that they would excel in the real world and make the institute and the nation proud.
Highlighting the economic vision of the Government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the IIFT Convocation, the Minister said it is rooted in building a developed nation — a Viksit Bharat — ensuring prosperity for every child born in the country. The focus, he said, is on resilience, sustainability, inclusiveness, and innovation-driven growth, with an aim to improve quality of life, bridge the rural-urban divide, reduce poverty, and promote ease of doing business and ease of living.
At the IIFT Convocation, Goyal underlined the role of technology and artificial intelligence in driving India’s growth story, pointing out the transformative potential of AI, robotics, machine learning, quantum computing, and innovation across key sectors such as manufacturing, agriculture, healthcare, and education. Coupled with India’s large pool of 2.3 million STEM graduates every year, he said, these advancements can reduce dependence on foreign technology and empower industries and services while uplifting those at the bottom of the pyramid.
Recounting his experience of running a skill development centre in Mumbai during the IIFT Convocation, the Minister shared how students from modest backgrounds quickly adapted to new-age technologies such as cybersecurity, reflecting India’s innate ability to embrace knowledge and innovation. He emphasized that India’s youthful population — with an average age of 28.4 years — is its greatest strength in the journey from a $4 trillion economy to one worth $30–35 trillion.
Goyal reiterated Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of self-reliance in technology during the IIFT Convocation — from operating systems to cybersecurity and deep tech to artificial intelligence. He said India must secure primacy in technology globally and make the nation proud.
Citing India’s strong macroeconomic fundamentals, low inflation, and fastest-growing large economy status at the IIFT Convocation, Goyal highlighted the increasing global interest in India, with over 2,500 international companies already present in the country. He said this unprecedented opportunity places the destiny of the nation in the capable hands of the youth.
Encouraging the graduating students at the IIFT Convocation, the Minister urged them to continue learning, reskilling, and engaging with global megatrends, while nurturing the lifelong friendships built at IIFT. He called upon them to dream big, aspire beyond the ordinary, and work smart to capture opportunities.
Concluding the IIFT Convocation address, the Minister asserted that the progress of each graduate would also mean progress for Bharat, ultimately leading the country to its rightful place in the global order. He assured the graduating class that there is no power on earth that can stop them from achieving their dreams and making their families, institute, and nation proud.
Chancellor, IIFT, and Secretary, Department of Commerce, Sunil Barthwal presided over the IIFT Convocation . The Commerce Secretary, in his address, underlined IIFT’s pivotal role in nurturing leaders who are prepared to navigate the complexities of global trade and business in a rapidly changing world. He emphasized that resilience, adaptability, and ethical leadership will be the defining qualities that shape India’s continued success on the international stage. Speaking about the opportunities ahead, he urged students at the IIFT Convocation to align their aspirations with the nation’s larger goals, reminding them that every step forward they take in their careers adds to the progress of Bharat.
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