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Address by Ambassador at ITEC Day (28 November 2025)

Address by Ambassador at ITEC Day

(28 November 2025)

Honourable Minister of Education & Skill Development H.E. Yeezang De Thapa
Chairman of Royal Civil Service Commission Aum Tashi Pem
Members of India-Bhutan Parliamentary Friendship Group led by Chairman Honourable Naiten Wangchuk
Distinguished Guests, Dear Alumni

Good Evening, Churu Dele La, Namaskar

Welcome to the celebration of Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme (ITEC) Day which renders educational, professional training and capacity building support to over 160 countries around the world. Over the last 6 decades, over 225,000 international officials and experts have attended ITEC Civil short-term training. Last year alone, 12,000 plus training seats were offered at over 120 eminent institutions in India. Additionally, over 3000 university education scholarships for under graduate, post graduate and doctoral studies were offered last year to 180 countries.

ITEC programme also extends to establishment of centres of excellence around the world and deployment of Indian specialists in various countries for capacity building and resource development. ITEC also offers military, police and security courses to about three thousand professionals in India every year. Through these activities, ITEC has proven to be an effective platform for India’s foreign relations, strengthening our partnership and cooperation with developing countries, the Global South.

Dear Guests and Alumni

ITEC complements the very exceptional and unique India-Bhutan relationship. ITEC’s strength lies in it connecting specialists, officials, students and people of the two countries through education, skill development, while also introducing them to Indian society and culture and thirdly, enabling establishment of friendships for participants with coursemates from around the world. Thus, ITEC provides the depth, strength and enduring nature to the relationship between the two countries. Therefore, ITEC Day is also very significant for India-Bhutan ties.

In the last five years, India has provided ITEC civil training seats to about 1,200 Bhutanese professionals and officials at renowned Indian Institutions. Last year, around 1,700 Bhutanese students at university-level degree courses received Indian government scholarships. Additionally, there are hundreds of other training and skill development courses for Bhutan as part of India-Bhutan economic and project cooperation activities. Thus, ITEC education and skill development activities are fairly sizeable.

ITEC is constantly evolving to cover emerging fields of human endeavors such as artificial intelligence, bio-technology, new materials, digital public infrastructure, semiconductors, space applications, renewable energy sources such as hydrogen and energy storage, and so on. This ensures that ITEC remain attractive and in big demand from experts around the world. May I mention to audience here that India organizes specialized courses on demand under ITEC and Embassy of India, Thimphu will be open to develop special courses for the Royal Government of Bhutan and other organizations in Bhutan in areas of their interest.

Two weeks back in Thimphu, the Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi described India-Bhutan relationship as one of values, emotions, peace, progress, development, prosperity, spiritual and cultural bonds. These values and elements resonate well with ITEC programme, which connects the people and provide depth to the friendship and ties between the two countries.

I am grateful for the support and cooperation of the Ministry of Education & Skill Development, Ministry of Foreign Affairs & External Trade, the National Assembly and National Council, Royal Civil Service Commission, Bhutan Power Development Cooperation, Election Commission, Royal University of Bhutan, schools, hospitals and numerous institutions for their partnership in the implementation of ITEC programmes.

I congratulate the Bhutanese alumni of university-level degrees and short-term training courses for their friendship and I wish for their continued success in their respective domains.

May the special friendship between India and Bhutan continue to prosper and flourish with ITEC programme and educational scholarships in the years to come.

Thank you, Kadrinchey la!