Embassy of India

ABIDJAN - COTE D'IVOIRE

Son Excellence Monsieur Koffi N’Guessan, Minister of Technical Education, Vocational Training and Apprenticeship and Chief Guest of this ITEC Day 2021. Senior officials from various Departments, ITEC Alumni

Ladies and Gentlemen,

 

 Bonjour /Good afternoon

 

It is my pleasure to welcome you all on the occasion of ITEC Day celebration- 2021. We celebrate ITEC Day every year except last year 2020 due to covid-19 pandemic, to bring all ITEC Scholars together and interact with them and share their experiences in India.

 

Relationship between India and Cote d’Ivoire has always been cordial and friendly. India was one of the first countries which recognized Cote d’Ivoire the very year it got independence. India stands ready to strengthen this mutually beneficial relationship cutting across all sectors which include G2G development cooperation, Trade & Investments, Agriculture, Health, Education, ICT, Power and Mining.

 

ITEC programme which started in 1964 is India’s flagship programme for south-south cooperation. It is indeed, one of the important pillars of India’s cooperation with developing countries. Under this programme Government of India share its experience and expertise in various fields with around 160 developing countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, Central and Eastern Europe, and the Pacific Island States for delivering technical assistance, technology transfer and capacity building.

 

There are many Centre of excellence which are empaneled for conducting various ITEC Course which are short-term, medium-term and long-term courses every year in a wide and diverse range of skills and disciplines. These training programmes have contributed significantly towards capacity building and human resource development of our friendly countries in many parts of the world.

 

Under ITEC Programme Cote d’Ivoire has been offered 100 Training slots every year.  Besides ITEC slots GOI also offers training slots under India-Africa Forum Summit for senior Doctors/ Nurses and Agriculture scientists in advance hospitals in India including Apollo hospital and Agriculture research Institutes including in International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT). India also provides 10 ICCR scholarships every year for Cote d’Ivoire.  Meritorious students may apply for this. Besides this under e-VBAB we have many on lines courses which one can join for free. The University of Man has been selected as the coordinating University for e-VBAB programme.

 

India’s endeavor to partner with African countries including Cote d’Ivoire is an important pillar of India ?s foreign policy. In India’s own limited way, India has been sharing its developmental experiences, technologies and technical knowledge to assist you in your march to toward economic development and progress.

 

As each of you has been an ITEC Alumni, you have seen little bits of India and has some understanding of India and I sincerely hope that you all will act as a bridge in fostering closer bilateral relations between our two friendly countries.

 

I thank you all for your attention. I wish you all success in your personal and professional lives.

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