Ambassador of India to Nepal, H.E. Shri Shiv Shankar Mukherjee is to host a reception on the occasion of Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Day at India House at 1730 hrs. on Friday, 15 September 2006.
Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation programme, popularly known as “ITEC”, was launched in 1964 as a bilateral programme of assistance of the Government of India.
Under ITEC and its corollary SCAAP (Special Commonwealth Assistance for Africa Programme), 156 countries in Asia, East Europe, Central Asia, Africa and Latin America are invited to share in the Indian developmental experience acquired over five decades of India’s existence as a free nation.
The first batch of 12 Nepali participants went from Nepal to India in the year 2000. Over the years, the number of seats allocated to Nepal under the ITEC programme has increased from 12 in 2000 to 80 in 2006. Candidates from Government of Nepal as well as from private and public sectors have been trained under the ITEC programme in reputed institutions in India in the field of computers, engineering, journalism, banking, legislation, power, remote sensing, manpower research, education, empowerment of women, hydrology, law enforcement, business planning & promotion, accounts & finance, etc. From the year 2000 till date, around 120 participants from Nepal have benefited from attending short-term professional courses in India. Due to the popularity of the scheme, the Embassy of India is making efforts to increase the number of seats to Nepal under the ITEC programme.
ITEC is about cooperation and partnership for mutual benefit. It is response-oriented and it addresses the needs of developing countries
Though India itself is a developing country engaged in meeting economic and social challenges, it has always been willing to share its skills and experience more appropriate to the geographical and ecological conditions and the stage of technological development of several developing countries.
India spends about Rs.500 million annually on ITEC activities. Since 1964, India has provided under the programme over US$2 billion worth of technical assistance to developing countries including neighbouring countries.
ITEC is the flag bearer of the Indian Government’s technical cooperation effort, not only because of its wide geographical coverage but also for innovative forms of technical cooperation in which it has assisted.
ITEC is essentially bilateral. There have been occasions, however, when ITEC resources were used for financing Trilateral and Regional Programmes under the Economic Commission for Africa, UNIDO and Group of 77. Today, AARRO (Afro Asian Rural Reconstruction Organisation), and G-15 are being helped by ITEC with Training and project support and a small beginning has also been made with cooperation with the SADC (Southern African Development Community)
Indian Technical Economic Cooperation has five components viz (1) Training in India of nominees of ITEC partner countries (2) Projects and project related activities such as feasibility studies and consultancy services (3) Deputation of Indian experts abroad (4) Study Tours (5) Ad for Disaster Relief (ADR).
All concerned journalists are requested to cover the programme.
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