Premier Indian fashion design institute, National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) will soon open its branch in Muscat.
"There is demand and we are open to proposals from Muscat," Shankarsinh Vaghela, Minister of Textiles, told Gulf News during his visit to the city recently.
"It is possible and we will study any proposals from private sector to set up NIFT in Muscat," said Vaghela, who had a meeting with Dr Omar Bin Abdul Munim Al Zawawi, external liaison adviser to the sultan of Oman.
The minister also urged Muscat residents to buy Indian handicrafts as it is a source of employment to 6.5 million artisans in India, of which 50 per cent are women.
"Countries in the Middle East are a potential market for Indian handicraft and there is substantial demand for hand-crafted Indian products," he was quoted as saying.
India produces handicraft worth an estimated $8.78 billion and almost half of it is exported.
