Kuala Lumpur – High Commission of India organized the ‘ITEC Day 2019’ on 24th September 2019 at the residence of the Indian High Commissioner. The function marked the 55th anniversary of the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Programme, and commemorated the close educational, technical and economic cooperation between India and Malaysia. Academicians, Malaysian Government officials and those who have undergone ITEC training courses in India, and members of the media attended the event.
Addressing the gathering, the Indian High Commissioner Shri Mridul Kumar emphasised on the existing strong ties between the two countries, especially the field of education and training, and hoped that this partnership would continue to grow. He added that the ITEC Programme is India’s commitment to other developing countries for assisting in their social and economic development through capacity-building and sharing of best practices.
The High Commissioner encouraged Malaysians to take full advantage of ITEC courses, and also the Scholarship Programme for Diaspora Children (SPDC).The High Commissioner also invited Malaysian Government officials and professionals to participate in the fully sponsored capacity-building training programmes offered by the Government of India under ITEC.
The ITEC Programme was launched in 1964 as a bilateral programme of assistance of the Government of India, and from 1964 till now about 500,000 people have benefitted through the ITEC Programme. Under the ITEC Programme, candidates from
161 friendly developing countries, stretching from the Caribbean to Southeast Asia, are invited to benefit from India’s developmental experience acquired over seven decades since independence.
Under 2019-20 ITEC program, 61 training institutions are providing 203 training courses. Training is provided in various fields such as Agriculture, Food and Fertilizer, Banking, Finance, Accounts, Engineering & Technology, English Language, Environmental and Climate Change, Government Function, Health
and Yoga, Human Resource Development and Planning, Irrigation and Water Resources, IT and Business English, Journalism, Management & Leadership, Power, Renewable and Alternative Energy, Project Management, Quality Management, Rural Development, Poverty Alleviation, SMEs and Entrepreneurship, Sustainable Development and South-South Cooperation, Telecommunication, Textile, Trade and International Market, Urban Planning, and Women Empowerment etc..
Since 2007, about 273 Malaysian candidates have participated in and benefitted from the ITEC training. Malaysia has been allotted 30 training slots this year under this programme. The ITEC training candidates are provided return air-tickets, accommodation, full-board, training fees and monthly allowance in India. Some of the past participants of the ITEC Programme shared their feedback and fond memories of their training in India with the other invitees and dignitaries present at the function.
