Ahmedabad, January 21: WITH the two-day placement session beginning Saturday at the National Institute of Design (NID), students’ hopes are running high for bagging fatter pay packets compared to last year. Sources believe that compared to last year’s average of Rs 7-7.5 lakh per annum, this year the figures may touch the Rs-9 lakh mark.

On Saturday, 29 companies, including leading Italy-based retail design company Grottini, came down for recruiting students.

This year retail sectors are showing special interest in the 200-odd post graduate and under-graduate students. NID Director Dr Darlie Koshy had construed this trend as something that may help translate into better opportunities for students.

Though a number of NID alumni are employed with Grottini, this was the first year that the company has come down for recruiting on-campus, say sources.

Apart from Grottini, US-based design company Virgin Animation Private Limited which also registered itself early with NID’s placement cell, has raised hopes for better pay packages.

There are at least 25 other companies, including Whirlpool, LG, P&G, and Tata Interactive among others that will take part on Sunday, the second day of campus placements.