New Delhi, Dec. 18, 2025 / Kabar /. A group of journalists from Central Asia, including representatives from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, as well as Armenia and Georgia, became acquainted with India’s political, technological, cultural and economic landscape during a familiarization visit organized by India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), External Publicity and Public Diplomacy Division.
The 10-day visit aimed to deepen India–Central Asia media cooperation, introduce journalists to India’s development experience, and broaden their understanding of the country’s political, economic and technological progress.
On the first day of their stay in New Delhi, the delegation toured Rashtrapati Bhawan (the Presidential Palace) and held interactions at Asian News International (ANI). They also visited Dilli Haat, a major cultural marketplace.
On Dec. 11, the journalists met representatives of the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), followed by discussions with senior officials at the Department of Science and Technology (DST), where Secretary of DST, scientist Abhay Karandikar, touched upon the topic of India's digital development. The day concluded with a visit to India Gate, a war memorial located near the Rajpath.
India Gate is more than a landmark – it is the nation’s collective heartbeat. It’s where people gather to remember, to honour, and to feel connected to the spirit of unity in diversity that defines India.
The programme on Dec. 12 included a visit to the Prime Minister’s Museum, meetings with the Director General of the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In), and an interaction with the Secretary of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology of India, where MeitY Additional Secretary Abhishek Singh briefed about the upcoming IndiaAI Impact Summit .
On Dec. 13, the delegation travelled to Agra, where they visited the Taj Mahal and learned about the history and techniques involved in its decoration and preservation.
From Dec. 14 to 18, the journalists continued their programme in Hyderabad. Activities included visits to Shilparamam Village, the innovation and startup hubs T-Hub and T-Works, and the Indian School of Business.
The delegation also explored cultural landmarks such as Charminar and the Salar Jung Museum, visited private space-tech company Skyroot Aerospace, and toured Ramoji Film City, the world’s largest integrated film studio complex.
On the final day of the press tour, the journalists visited the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy, where they learned about the academy’s activities.
India is a unique open-air museum, home to many historical monuments, complexes and forts. One of them is the Golconda fort in Hyderabad, which was also included in the program of visits by foreign journalists. The surviving parts of the fortress speak of the glory and power of the dynasties that once ruled India.
For most of the journalists, the visit marked their first trip to India and left them with vivid and pleasant impressions of the country.
Journalist from Kyrgyzstan Ekaterina Tokombaeva, who visited India for the first time, shared her impressions of the trip.
“I was very impressed by India, especially by the combination of its rich history and the way it has been preserved,” Tokombaeva said. “We saw not only a beautiful and historic India, but also a modern and powerful country — one that is launching rockets, developing its economy, and has strong armed forces, police and anti-terrorism structures.”
Speaking about her visit to the Taj Mahal, she said the experience left a deep emotional impact. “When you are there, you feel absolutely incredible emotions. It is wonderful that the tradition of decorative stone and marble craftsmanship has been preserved,” she noted.
Tokombaeva also highlighted a small workshop near the Taj Mahal, where, according to local residents, members of the same family that once worked on the monument continue the stone-processing tradition.
Nurzhan Kasmalieva
Kabar News Agency