DHARAMSHALA: The Kalon for the Department of Home of the Central Tibetan Administration visited the Italian Autonomous Region of South Tyrol and Trentino at the invitation and support from Dr. Günther Cologna-Head of the European Academy (EURAC), Bolzano.

The visit was aimed at signing an agreement on the cooperation project with the province of Bolzano. It was also aimed at strengthening the friendship and renewing the cooperation projects with the province and the region.

On 25 August, Kalon Dolma Gyari met with the President of South Tyrol, Dr. Arno Kompatsche,r at his office and signed the agreement on the ‘Agricultural Development through Modernization and Market Access’ project. “We will support the Tibetans in exile with agricultural know-how and today laid the foundations for the development collaboration project,” said President Kompatscher. The project is to be implemented at the Organic Research and Training Center (ORTC), Bylakuppe, in the southern Indian state of Karnataka, which hosts five big agriculture-based Tibetan settlements.

In the afternoon, Kalon met with Mr Bruno Doringatti, President of the Provincial Council of Trento, Alessandro Olivi, Vice-President of the Province and Joseph Detomas, the Regional Minister at Trentino.  They assured and reiterated that Trentino intends to continue in international cooperation projects in place with the Central Tibetan Administration, but also added that political support to the cause of peaceful struggle for the rights and freedom of the Tibetan people that the province is stronger than ever.

Kalon was accompanied by Ngawang Gyaltsen, Project officer of the Planning Division of the Department of Home.

Before leaving for Italy, on 21 August, Kalon met with Mr Kalraj Mishra, the Minister of Small and Medium Enterprises, in India and apprised him on the situation of Tibetan handicraft and small industries.