As part of the 7th International Day of Yoga celebrations and to promote Yoga and Ayurveda in Cambodia, Embassy of India, Phnom Penh, in coordination with Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India, National Centre for Traditional Medicine (NCTM), Ministry of Health, Royal Government of Cambodia and Cambodia Chamber of Commerce organized a webinar on “Yoga and Ayurveda: Holistic Well-being” on 23rd June 2021. While H.E. Oknha Nguon Mengtech, Director General of Cambodia Chamber of Commerce gave opening remarks, H.E. Dr Devyani Khobragade delivered closing remarks with field experts making presentations on various topics relating to Yoga and Ayurveda, their complementarities, and benefits for the holistic well-being.
In his opening remarks, H.E. Oknha Nguon Mengtech Director General of Cambodia Chamber of Commerce (CCC) recalled CCC’s association with the Embassy of India, Phnom Penh in organising various business-related events with the recent ones being Buyer Seller Meet of buffalo meat and other meat products with participation from a large number of companies from India & Cambodia and Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council (PHARMEXIL)’s country session on Cambodia. He hoped that more and more commerce-related events will be held in the future.
Field experts from various Institutes and organisations from India spoke at length on the benefits of Yoga and its complementarities with Ayurveda and their underlying principles that lead to the holistic well-being of the individual. Dr Ishwar Basavaraddi, Director, Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga, Delhi also explained to the participants about the recently released Yoga App on the 7th International Day of Yoga on 21st June 2021 and Yoga Certification procedures for interested Institutes from abroad and encouraged yoga institutes and Cambodia Chamber of Commerce to consider registering for Yoga certification from India. Other speakers from Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhan Samsthana (S-VYASA), All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), New Delhi, National Institute of Ayurveda (NIA), Jaipur and Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda (ITRA), Jamnagar gave presentations on “Yoga, its basis and application in daily life”, “Role of Ayurveda in COVID-19”, “Role of Ayurveda in Diabetes” and “Role of Ayurveda in Cardiovascular Diseases” respectively.
In her closing remarks, H.E. Dr Devyani Khobragade, Ambassador of India said that while Yoga deals with the harmonizing of mind, body and soul, Ayurveda takes care of the person’s physical and mental well-being through the means of diet and lifestyle changes. She informed the participants about the recent discussions between the Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India and National Centre for Traditional Medicine (NCTM), Cambodia on exploring opportunities for cooperation in the field of traditional medicine and their efforts to sign a Memorandum of Understanding in the field of Traditional Medicine soon to expand cooperation in the field of traditional medicine to other related areas.
She also stated that tourism is one of the main pillars of growth in Cambodia with several wellness centres all over the country, who could add yoga and Ayurveda services to increase their tourist attraction potential, especially from India. She added that there are ample business opportunities for both countries in this field and hoped that companies on both sides would grab those opportunities and enhance trade and commercial relations between India and Cambodia.
Source: Embassy of India, Phnom Penh
