Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Friday, 17 July 2026, interacted with 30 Industrial Training Institute (ITI) trainees from the state who are currently on an exposure visit to Kazakhstan, saying the experience was visibly building both knowledge and confidence among the young participants. Technical Education Minister Rajesh Dharmaini is accompanying the group on the visit.

Context

Posting in Hindi on X, CM Sukhu described his interaction with the trainees: 'जब युवाओं को सीखने और दुनिया को करीब से देखने का अवसर मिलता है, तो ज्ञान बढ़ने के साथ-साथ उनका आत्मविश्वास भी नई ऊँचाइयों तक पहुँचता है' ('When young people get the opportunity to learn and see the world up close, their confidence reaches new heights along with their growing knowledge'). He said the Kazakhstan visit would familiarise trainees with new technologies and global work culture while helping them recognise their own capabilities from a fresh perspective.

The Chief Minister also noted that the state has previously sent youth — including beneficiaries of the 'Children of the State' scheme — to other Indian states and abroad, and that every such trip has 'awakened new thinking, new dreams, and a new belief in moving forward' among participants.

Policy Backdrop

Himachal Pradesh has for several years organised domestic and international exposure visits for students and vocational trainees under state education and skill programmes. The 'Children of the State' initiative — which targets children in state care — has been one vehicle for such outreach, sending selected youth outside the state for experiential learning.

Across India, multiple state governments have added short-term foreign exposure components to their vocational training calendars, aiming to acquaint ITI graduates with modern equipment, international workplace norms, and quality standards they would not encounter domestically. CM Sukhu framed the Kazakhstan visit within this broader national trend, stating: 'In a rapidly changing world, connecting our youth with global opportunities and modern skills is the need of the hour.'

Stakeholders and Impact

The immediate beneficiaries are the 30 ITI trainees from Himachal Pradesh currently in Kazakhstan. For this cohort, the visit represents direct exposure to industrial and technical environments beyond India, which vocational educators argue has measurable effects on trainee confidence and employability.

Technical Education Minister Rajesh Dharmaini's presence on the ground signals the state government's institutional investment in the programme rather than a purely symbolic gesture. The visit also has implications for Himachal Pradesh's broader skill-development ecosystem, as outcomes from such trips can inform future curriculum design and industry linkages.

What's Next

CM Sukhu confirmed that the government intends to continue sending youth on domestic and international visits: 'Going forward too, we will send children on tours within the country and abroad.' Observers will watch for formal announcements on scaling the programme to additional countries, potential memoranda of understanding with foreign institutions, and integration of international exposure components into the state's skill-development budget.

The government's stated ambition — that 'every young person in Himachal Pradesh should be able to stand firmly on any global platform through their talent, hard work, and self-confidence' — sets a high bar that will require sustained policy commitment and funding beyond individual visits.