KATHMANDU: The 57th Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Day was celebrated by the Embassy of India on Tuesday (March 29) in Kathmandu.

Ambassador Vinay Mohan Kwatra hosted the event and welcomed the ITEC alumni, who did their higher education or training in various reputed institutes of India. Minister of Education Devendra Paudel graced the event as the Chief Guest while Nepali Army Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) General Prabhu Ram Sharma was the Special Guest.

Ambassador Vinay Mohan Kwatra felicitated Special Guest CoAS General Sharma, who is also an Honorary General of the Indian Army, and senior ITEC alumni and Vice-Chancellor of Madhesh Institute of Health Sciences, Janakpurdham, Prof. Dr. Ram Kewal Shah, for their outstanding services towards the country and in recognition of their achievements which exemplified the highest standards of training imparted through ITEC.

The ITEC alumni, including retired officers of the Nepali Army and Secretary at Water and Energy Commission Dinesh Kumar Ghimire, fondly reminisced about their time spent during training with various civilian and Defense Institutions in India.

Ambassador Kwatra also highlighted that under ITEC, Nepal has been one of the most active participants and recipients of various training programs. In 57 years of its existence, more than 2,00,000 people worldwide have been directly benefitted, while several thousand Nepali citizens have been trained under tailor-made ITEC courses designed to meet the specific requirements of Nepal during the last 15 years.

On the occasion, Minister Paudel also lauded the efforts of the Embassy of India for providing uninterrupted training through eITEC courses during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, ensuring continuity for Nepali ITEC students.