Speech by the Ambassador at  ITEC Day 2025 in Kazakhstan
(31 October, 2025 - Astana)

Al-Salam Malik Kum, Salemitsiz be, Namaskar,..

Honorable Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, distinguished guests, esteemed ITEC alumni, ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the ITEC Day 2025.

It is a profound honor to stand before you today as we celebrate ITEC Day 2025, marking the 61st anniversary of India's flagship program of Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation . Launched in 1964, ITEC embodies India's commitment to sharing knowledge, building capacities, and fostering enduring partnerships with our friends across the globe. Here in Kazakhstan, it is a day which is a testament to the deep-rooted friendship between our two nations, a bond that has flourished since time immemorial.

Kazakhstan has been a valued partner in the ITEC program since 1992. Over the years, more than 1,471 Kazakh professionals including over 1,100 civilians and 371 defense personnel have benefited from specialized training in India. ITEC is going to add more courses at the request of Kazakhstan army on information warfare and Cryptology.

In the last six decades ITEC has empowered over 200,000 professionals from 160 partner countries. This year alone ITEC have trained over 15000 people through virtual and in person courses. ITEC programs spans into critical areas such as information technology, artificial intelligence, healthcare, engineering, and public administration empowering individuals and fostering innovation and sustainable development.

I am particularly delighted to highlight the educational dimension of our cooperation, which aligns closely with the vision of the Hon’ble President HE Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in advancing Kazakhstan's education sector and build world class educational institutions. Through ITEC and complementary initiatives like the Indian Council for Cultural Relations scholarships, India offer opportunities for Kazakh students and educators to engage with world-class institutions in India, honing skills in various emerging fields.

These exchanges are more than just training—they are bridges of understanding, weaving together our shared aspirations for a prosperous future. As we look ahead, India remains committed to expanding this collaboration and pledge to expand ITEC with launching of courses on new areas like AI, Green Technology and women’s leadership. We envision deeper ties in digital education, vocational training, and joint research, contributing to Kazakhstan's ambitious goals under its New Kazakhstan strategy. Together, we can harness the potential of our young talents to address global challenges like climate change and technological disruption.

On behalf of the Government and people of India, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the Government of Kazakhstan, especially the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, for your unwavering support. To our ITEC alumni, you are the living ambassadors of this partnership—your successes inspire us all.

Long live the India-Kazakhstan friendship! Thank you.

*****