Beirut: The Embassy of India in Lebanon hosted a ceremony to celebrate Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Day 2026 at the Gefinor Rotana Hotel in Beirut. The event was held under the patronage and in the presence of Indian Ambassador to Lebanon Mohammad Noor Rahman Sheikh. According to National News Agency - Lebanon, the ceremony was attended by a number of key figures including Minister of Industry Joe Issa El Khoury, Agriculture Minister Nizar Hani, represented by Agriculture Ministry Director of Studies and Coordination Hala Abdallah, and Civil Service Council President Nisrine Mashmoushi. Other notable attendees included Foreign and Expatriates Ministry Director of Economic Affairs Ambassador Rana Mokaddem and Tele Liban Board Chairperson Elissar Naddaf, along with other Lebanese officials and representatives. Additionally, the event saw the presence of Internal Security Forces Director General Major General Raed Abdullah, represented by ISF Training Division Chief Brigadier General Trodie El Kadi, and General Security Director General Major General Hassan Shqeir, represented by Major Charbel Atallah. Also attending were Commander of the Indian Battalion INDBATT XXVII, Colonel Prason Singh, representatives of Lebanese institutions, ITEC alumni, and friends of India. During his speech, Ambassador Sheikh emphasized the significance of the ITEC program in fostering capacity building, development cooperation, and the exchange of expertise between India and its partner countries. He pointed out that since its inception in 1964, the program has offered professionals training opportunities in various fields. Highlighting the longstanding relationship between India and Lebanon, Sheikh spoke about the collaboration in cultural, economic, and development sectors. He also mentioned the contribution of the Indian contingent serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) since 1998. Sheikh shared that the bilateral trade between India and Lebanon is currently valued at approximately $5 00 million. He affirmed the embassy's ongoing efforts to enhance trade and investment ties. Discussing the ITEC program, Sheikh noted that 75 civilian training slots are currently allocated to Lebanon, with a rising number of applications. He revealed that the Indian Embassy has proposed increasing the allocation to 150 slots to provide more training opportunities for Lebanese professionals. Concluding his remarks, Sheikh emphasized the importance of maintaining the cooperative and friendly relationship between India and Lebanon and strengthening communication between ITEC alumni and the Indian Embassy.