India’s Embassy in Kathmandu Marks 60th ITEC Day

The Embassy of India in Kathmandu celebrated the 60th Indian Technical & Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Day on March 21, 2025. The event was attended by Members of Parliament, senior government officials, ITEC alumni, and distinguished Nepali graduates from Indian institutions. Nepal’s Foreign Minister, Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba, was the Chief Guest of the occasion.

Initiated in 1964, ITEC is the Ministry of External Affairs’ leading platform for international capacity building. Over the decades, it has trained more than 200,000 officials from over 160 countries, including Nepal. Each year, ITEC offers nearly 10,000 fully funded training opportunities through 400 specialized courses at more than 100 renowned institutions in India, utilizing India’s rich expertise in governance and development.

During the event, Attorney General Ramesh Badal and ITEC alumni, Brig. Gen. Pawan Khatri of the National Security Council Secretariat and Superintendent Dayaram Sharma of the Armed Police Force, shared their experiences and reflections on the program. The celebration also featured a vibrant Mayurbhanj Chau dance by the Indian cultural troupe ‘Yagna’ and an engaging folk fusion and jazz performance by Nepal’s popular Kanta Dab Dab band.

Foreign Minister Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba fondly recalled her educational experience in India, expressing gratitude for India’s contributions to Nepal’s development and education. Indian Ambassador to Nepal, Naveen Srivastava, reaffirmed India’s commitment to expanding the ITEC initiative and developing more customized programs tailored to Nepal’s evolving needs.

In the 2024-2025 session, 510 Nepali professionals received training in various disciplines in India. Among them, 21 engineers pursued two-year M.Tech courses at IIT Roorkee, while 18 specialized courses were offered to doctors, government attorneys, members of the National Judicial Academy, Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, and officials from the Ministries of Home Affairs and Water Supply.

Over the past 15 years, more than 3,000 Nepali officials have benefitted from ITEC training. These capacity-building initiatives not only strengthen Nepal’s human resource development but also foster deeper bilateral cooperation and regional socio-economic growth.