Embassy of India
Brazzaville
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Speech by Mr. Sanjeev Kumar, First Secretary,
on the occasion of ITEC Day Celebrations
on 25 October 2024

H.E. Mr. Adrien TSIOULA, Chief of the Asia, Oceania, Near
and Middle East Department, at MoFA, 
distinguished ITEC alumni
and esteemed guests,

Good evening and welcome to the ITEC Day celebrations! 

I am happy to have you all here today as we celebrate the enduring partnership between India and the Republic of Congo through the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme, known as ITEC.  This is a much acclaimed, appreciated, highly successful and liked programme for capacity building of the partner countries.

Instituted in 1964, ITEC is the Ministry of External Affairs’ leading capacity-building platform. Over the past six decades, it has trained more than 200,000 persons from over 160 countries in both the civilian and defence sectors, making it one of the oldest and most impactful international capacity-building programs.

India’s development partnership is guided by two fundamental principles: first, working in mutual benefit with our partner countries, and second, responding to priorities determined by our partners. ITEC exemplifies these principles, promoting shared growth and prosperity by offering specialized training, knowledge exchange, and resources. As our Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasizes, India’s development cooperation is human-centric and designed to meet the needs of our partners.

Through ITEC, India offers nearly 10,000 fully funded, in-person training opportunities annually. Over 100 prestigious institutes deliver around 400 courses, equipping professionals with skills that prepare them for a globalized world. Additionally, India offers customized training based on country-specific requests to address unique governance challenges.

For the Republic of Congo, India offers 10 training slots each year. However, in 2023-24, only 5 were utilized, and this year so far, only 4. I would like to encourage Republic of Congo to maximize the benefits from the allotted slots. ITEC alumni, you play a vital role in this by sharing your experiences with colleagues and encouraging wider participation in this valuable program.

Thank you all for joining us today, and I wish you continued success and growth.

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