Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank today virtually addressed the students from ASEAN member states who have been selected for the prestigious ASEAN PhD Fellowship Programme (APFP) funded by the Government of India. <br />''<br />''He said  the academic and research ties among India and ASEAN member states will be mutually beneficial for both the regions. It will further strengthen our ties in culture, commerce and connectivity. APFP will open many doors to synergies in the field of technology and research for the academicians, researchers and the scientists from India and ASEAN. <br />''<br />''The Minister said, the researches and inventions by them will be used for the betterment of mankind across the globe. He said, the students of the ASEAN member states have got the opportunity to study in the IITs, which are among the best global institutions.<br />''<br />''<span style="color: #222222;">The ASEAN PhD Fellowship Programme was announced on 25th January 2018, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the presence of leaders of all the ten ASEAN member states. </span>Education Minister <span style="color: #222222;">informed that under the APFP, one thousand fellowships will be provided exclusively to the ASEAN citizens.<br />''<br />'' He further informed that APFP is also the largest capacity development programme undertaken by the Government of India for foreign beneficiaries.</span>