About MDPs
Management Development Programs (MDPs) have been a cornerstone activity of the Institute since its inception in 1963. From the outset, the Institute envisioned becoming a centre of excellence for Executive Development Programs in International Business. Today, after more than six decades of dedicated service, it has established itself as a premier knowledge resource division, catering to the professional development needs of officers, managers, and executives at all levels. Our reach spans across the corporate, government, and public sectors, both within India and internationally.
The primary objective of our MDPs is to offer participants a valuable platform to engage with experienced faculty and fellow professionals, fostering the exchange of ideas that helps crystallize key concepts for enhanced decision-making. These programs enable business executives to explore new knowledge frontiers, refine their skills, and empower their organizations to achieve greater success.
Participants in our open programs include officers and executives from various government ministries and departments, corporate entities, trade facilitation agencies, export promotion organizations, and entrepreneurs.
The division engages experts from the government, trade facilitating institutes, banking sector, logistics, corporate sector and a variety of technical experts to complement the research and expertise of in-house faculty.
Besides, the Division offers specialized training in trade and business negotiations under the aegis of Centre for International Negotiations that functions within the Division.
Division Head’s Message
Dr. Naman Sharma
The Management Development Programmes (MDP) Division at Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, Kolkata Campus is envisioned as a platform for transformative executive learning where knowledge meets strategy, leadership meets execution, and learning creates measurable impact.
In this era shaped by global disruption, technological change and evolving markets; organisations need employees and leaders who can think beyond functions, adapt with agility and lead with perspective. Our programmes are designed precisely for this purpose: to build strategic capability, global business understanding, and future-ready leadership.
From International Business, Export-Import Management and Trade Finance to Leadership, Branding, Service Excellence and Managerial Effectiveness; every programme combines academic excellence, thought leadership with practical relevance. The emphasis is not merely on learning new concepts, but on developing the ability to make better decisions, solve complex challenges and create sustained organisational value.
A defining strength of the Division lies in its customised executive interventions developed in close partnership with ministries, PSUs, banks, corporates and developmental institutions. These programmes are carefully aligned with institutional priorities, ensuring that learning remains contextual, actionable and outcome driven.
At IIFT Kolkata Campus, participants engage with an ecosystem of distinguished faculty, industry practitioners, policymakers and experts who bring together intellectual depth and real-world insight. The result is a learning experience that is immersive, contemporary and deeply connected to business realities.
Our focus remains clear: creating meaningful learning experiences that drive professional growth, institutional excellence and lasting impact…
Dr. Naman Sharma
Explore the Division Programme
Connect with Us
Dr. Rajendra Prasad Sharma
Head of the Division
- 03324195700 (Extn: 2254)
- headmdp_kol@iift.edu
Shri Dwaipayan Ash
Section Officer
- 03324195700 (Extn: 2251)
- sokol@iift.ac.in
