An event marking ITEC Day 2026 was held at the ‘Ýyldyz’ Hotel on 24 March. It was organised by the Embassy of India in Turkmenistan. The event was attended by ITEC programme alumni, ICCR scholarship holders, representatives of the diplomatic corps and experts, according to IIC.

The meeting was opened by the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of India, Bandaru Wilsonbabu. He noted that the ITEC programme, which has been in operation since 1964, remains a key instrument of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs in the field of international cooperation.

According to him, over 225,000 civil servants from 160 countries have undergone training since the programme began.

Turkmenistan participates actively in the programme. Over 500 civilian specialists and around 100 military personnel have undergone training in India. Furthermore, more than 200 students have studied on grants from the Indian Council for Cultural Relations, whilst a further 100 or so enrol in Indian universities each year on a fee-paying basis.

The Ambassador called on young people to make greater use of India’s educational opportunities.

Graduates of the ITEC and ICCR programmes spoke at the meeting. They shared their experiences of studying and applying the knowledge they had gained. The event concluded with a cultural programme featuring traditional dances, music and a yoga demonstration.