KATHMANDU: The Embassy of India in Kathmandu celebrated 55^th anniversary of Indian Technical & Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Day at Hotel Marriott, Kathmandu on Monday.

Minister for Federal Affairs & General Administration Lalbabu Pandit was the Chief Guest of the celebrations.

Speaking at the program, Indian Ambassador Manjeev Singh Puri noted that the ITEC program has been pivotal in training senior officers and other officials from various Ministries and Departments of the Government of Nepal at India’s most premier institutions.

The program has tremendously contributed to skill up-gradation and human resources development in Nepal.

About 150 ITEC alumni attended the celebrations. ITEC Program is fully funded by the government of India to share India’s developmental experience with 161 friendly developing countries, including Nepal, Indian Embassy said in a press statement.

The celebration was also attended by the senior government of Nepal officers, including secretaries from Ministries and Departments, which mainly utilize various ITEC courses in training for human resources development of their officials.

The training courses are in the fields of computers, engineering, information technology, journalism, banking, legislation, power, remote sensing, manpower research, education, empowerment of women, hydrology, law enforcement, business planning and promotion, accounts and finance, etc.

A number of the government of Nepal’s institutions have benefitted from special tailor-made ITEC course designed based on their specific needs. For example this year, 62 officials of Ministry of Finance of Nepal participated in a Public Finance Management course at the Institute of Government Accounts and Finance (INGAF), New Delhi.

Similarly, another special tailor-made ITEC course on Investigation and Control of Revenue Leakage was held in 2 batches for 50 Department of Revenue Investigation (DRI), Nepal officials at National Academy of Customs Excise, Indirect Taxes and Narcotics (NACIN), Faridabad in March 2019.

Similarly, 60 Nepali officials are being trained on Anti Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism at NACIN. In addition, a total of 34 Nepali water resources experts are pursuing their M. Tech in the fields of irrigation water management, Hydrology, Alternative Energy and water resources development at the prestigious IIT, Roorkee.

Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre (SVCC), Embassy of India, Kathmandu presented an endearing cultural performance on the occasion.