Embassy of India

Embassy of India, Thimphu
Press Release

Subject: Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Program Celebrations in Bhutan

On 1 October 2021, Ambassador of India to Bhutan Ruchira Kamboj hosted a special event for Bhutanese alumni of MEA’s flagship ITEC program in Thimphu. The event was attended by the Foreign Minister of Bhutan Lyonpo Tandi Dorji, former Foreign Secretary of Bhutan Dasho Kinga Singye and Secretary, Ministry of Education Karma Tshering apart from Bhutanese alumni. The reception was organised as part of the 57th ITEC Day celebrations in Bhutan to commemorate the robust educational ties and bonds of friendship made possible by the ITEC Programme.

Development partnership occupies a paramount place in India's foreign policy. The ITEC Program was instituted by a decision of the Indian Cabinet on 15 September 1964 as India’s flagship program for training and capacity-building of partner countries. The focus of the ITEC program is to share India’s technical know-how and expertise by offering customized training courses at India’s premier institutions.

Bhutan is one of the top beneficiaries of ITEC courses and in the last 10 years, almost 2862 individuals from Bhutan have availed ITEC courses. The network of ITEC Alumni in Bhutan is spread across various departments, agencies and Ministries- such as Judiciary, Druk HOlding Investments, Bhutan Telecom, Bhutan Power Corporation, Ministry of Finance, Royal Audit Authority, Desuung, Royal Bhutan Police. These courses have been administered across a variety of fields such as renewable energy, sustainable development, urban planning, IT and English skills, rural development, project management, international banking and insurance, international trade and gender inclusive development. The highest number of ITEC courses availed by Bhutanese are in the fields of yoga, health and wellness, leadership development as well as IT and English skills.
At the special event, the ITEC alumni in Bhutan fondly recalled their experiences studying under the ITEC programme in India and the substantive impact the ITEC courses have brought to their career trajectories. The reception provided an opportunity for the Embassy to engage with the ITEC alumni and build upon the warm people to people ties that form the foundation of the bilateral relationship.

1 October 2021