The first International Education Fair for Jammu and Kashmir, organised by SKUAST-Kashmir and ICCR, was launched today at Sushma Swaraj Bhawan in New Delhi by Union Minister for External Affairs Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.  Union Minister for Education Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Union MoS, PMO Dr. Jitendra Singh, Lieutenant Governor of Jammu & Kashmir Manoj Sinha, and President of ICCR Vinay Sahasrabuddhe were also present at Sushma Swaraj Bhawan, New Delhi. 

Jaishankar praised the transformation that has taken place in Jammu and Kashmir over the past three years as a result of the Centre’s mission to give the localites of Jammu and Kashmir access to the same opportunity for growth and development as the rest of India.

“Today, India has completed and have projects underway in 78 countries of the world. So, if our relationships are so extensive, investments are so deep & networking is so good, we need to see that translated into a greater flow of international students to India,” Dr. Jaishankar said.

J&K’s lieutenant governor, Manoj Sinha, thanked the prime minister, Narendra Modi, for advancing the state’s development and making it a popular vacation spot for tourists, investors, and students. The Lt Governor claimed that by taking this action, J&K has begun a special programme for international students.

“Our aim is to invite international students to J&K for short-term and long-term courses in various disciplines & strengthen the international connect. Over the past three years, we have focused on strengthening education sector, developing knowledge workers for sectors like industries, agriculture & health care. Sincere efforts have been made to convert the knowledge dividends into wealth for process of innovation & growth,” the Lt Governor said. “Apart from campuses nestled in nature’s paradise, professional faculties, high standard of living, J&K is also offering variety of courses starting from Artificial Intelligence, Robotics to Agri science, Yoga, Sanskrit & interface with the industries for research & innovation,” the Lt Governor further added. 

Dr. Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, President of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), promised J&K that the organisation of exchange programmes for artisans and fairs, through which the message of a transformed, aspirational J&K reaches other nations, would have the support and cooperation of the ICCR.