Shimla: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu virtually flagged off a group of 44 top-performing B.Tech students today for the Japan International Exposure Tour-2026. Organized by the Department of Technical Education, the week-long trip runs from September 6 to September 12, 2026, marking the state’s second major global initiative following a similar ITI student visit to Kazakhstan.
The cohort consists of 24 male and 20 female engineering students selected strictly on merit from five state colleges, out of roughly 650 applicants. During the week, the group will tour major academic, research, and industrial hubs across Japan, including Tokyo Metropolitan University, the JAXA Tsukuba Space Center, Cyberdyne Robotics Studio, the JAL Aerospace Factory, and Kyocera facilities in Osaka.
Addressing the students, Chief Minister Sukhu highlighted that the trip aims to give young engineers firsthand exposure to cutting-edge robotics, space technology, advanced manufacturing, and Japanese workplace discipline. He noted that the state government is steadily building global exposure pathways across levels, having previously sent school students to Cambodia, vocational trainees to Kazakhstan, and currently preparing exposure visits for medical college students.
Speaking virtually alongside the departing group, Technical Education Minister Rajesh Dharmani emphasized that learning from a global technology leader like Japan will offer the students unique insights into both technical innovation and societal values. Principal Secretary of Technical Education Abhishek Jain was also present for the flag-off.
