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Indian Technical & Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Day celebrated with panel discussions on short term trainings and scholarship opportunities with AMU staffs, Indian expatriate staffs and Indian Institute’s Alumni at main campus, on 22nd December, 2022. Click here to see more pictures.

Mr. Ranjeet Kumar, Secretary in Embassy of India, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, said ITEC was first launched on 15th September, 1964 fully funded by Indian Government. He noted that ITEC is celebrated yearly across partner countries in order to further strengthen existing bonds in the field of capacity building graced with alumni of ITEC/ICCR or other Indian institutes and invited guests. Since its launch in 1969 in Ethiopia, ITEC has been well received and giving short term training opportunities to more than 400 people per year covering areas like agriculture, information technology, management, rural development, accounting, audit, banking, finance, health, environment, renewable energy, and many more sectors, Mr. Ranjeet explained.

Mr. Ranjeet, furthermore adds that, in addition to ITEC, Ethiopia is also beneficiary of Government of India scholarships for undergraduates, postgraduates and doctoral degrees under Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR). Presently, Ethiopia is being offered 55 slots for undergraduates, postgraduates and PhD courses and so far more than 660 Ethiopians have studied under ICCR scholarship according to Mr Ranjeet.  Many of Ethiopian Alumni studied in India are currently ministers, university presidents, vice presidents and others holding government’s higher positions in several universities and institutes, he remarked.

Vice President for Research and Community Engagement, Mr. Behailu Merdkios (Associate Professor), said Ethiopia and India have a strong development partnership based on mutual understanding, respect and sense of genuine partnership drawn on the principle of south-south cooperation. This partnership comprises of capacity building cooperation through technical training and scholarship grants towards support to people based on the priorities of Ethiopian Government. He also added that AMU is ready to work hard on this partnership and strengthen the relation with Indian Embassy.

It’s also learnt that the Indian Technical & Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Programme was instituted by a decision of the Indian Cabinet on 15 September 1964 as a bilateral programme of assistance of the Government of India. It has 161 partner countries and establishes relations of mutual concern and inter-dependence based not only on commonly held ideals and aspirations, but also on solid economic foundations.  ITEC Programme is essentially bilateral in nature, however, in recent years, its resources have also been used for cooperation programmes conceived in regional and inter-regional context such as Economic Commission for Africa, Commonwealth Secretariat, UNIDO, Group -77 and G-15. As a result of different activities under ITEC, there is now a visible and growing awareness among other countries about the competence of India as a provider of technical know-how and expertise as well as training opportunities, consultancy services and feasibility studies.

ITEC has components of Training (civilian and defence) in India of nominees from ITEC partner countries, deputation of Indian experts abroad and study tours. The duration of short term training programmes under ITEC ranges from 2-6 weeks. According the data report, so far, more than 3,300 Ethiopian nationals have attended these short term training programmes in India.

Questions and comments raised from participants were responded to by Mr. Ranjeet and Mr. Behailu especially on the scholarship issues. Mr. Ranjeet also urged AMU staff scholarship aspirants to reach out to them via Addis Ababa based information center, social media, and/or Indian Embassy web page for further clarification on the scholarship issues. Dr. V. Prem Sam Ponniah, from the shool of Law, AMU, organized and anchored the program.

Communication Affairs Directorate