Indian Ambassador invited Turkmen students to take advantage of educational opportunities in Indian universities

The Embassy of India in Turkmenistan marked ITEC Day-2026 by holding a formal event at the "Ýyldyz" Hotel in Ashgabat on March 24. The gathering brought together alumni of the ITEC program and ICCR scholarship recipients, as well as representatives from the diplomatic and expert communities.

The event was opened by the Ambassador of India to Turkmenistan, Bandaru Wilsonbabu. In his speech, he noted that the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) program was established in 1964 and remains one of the Ministry of External Affairs of India's primary platforms for capacity building in partner countries. According to the Ambassador, over the years, more than 225,000 government officials from 160 countries have undergone professional training under this program. Turkmenistan also plays a significant role in this initiative: over 500 Turkmen specialists and approximately 100 military personnel have received education at India's leading institutions.

The Ambassador also highlighted India's growing role in higher education: more than 200 students from Turkmenistan have benefited from Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) scholarships, and an additional 100 Turkmen students enroll in Indian universities on a commercial basis annually. Wilsonbabu encouraged Turkmen youth to more actively utilize the high-quality and affordable higher education opportunities offered in India.

A key part of the event featured speeches by ITEC and ICCR alumni. They shared their educational experiences in India and discussed how the knowledge they gained is being applied in their professional careers.

The celebration was complemented by a cultural program where guests experienced Indian music and dance arts, as well as a yoga demonstration.