Welcome Address by High Commissioner of India
at the \'ITEC Day\'™ reception
at India House on December 14, 2007
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• Let me warmly welcome all our guests, particularly ITEC participants from Bangladesh who have visited India for various training courses in the last 2 or 3 years, at this special evening to celebrate ‘ITEC Day’. 

• To begin with, perhaps a few words about ITEC (Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation) Programme for those who may not be fully familiar with this special programme. 

• ITEC programme was formally launched by Government of India in 1964 to forge South-South cooperation in capacity building and human resource development. One of the main components of ITEC programme is training in India for civilian as well as defence personnel in technical and specialized courses in different sectors. Since its formal launch, thousands of participants from partner developing countries have visited India to take part in this special programme. 

• From its modest beginning, this cooperative venture has grown over the years. India now welcomes more than four thousand participants every year from over 150 partner developing countries all over the world. India spends about Rs 500 million annually on ITEC activities. 

• About 40 institutions in India, government as well as private, have been sharing their experiences for more than 200 short-term and long-term training courses on a wide range of subjects that are of particular interest and relevance to developing countries such as information technology and telecommunication, rural development, accounts and finance, management, SME development, public administration and many more. 

• On the defence side, India has been offering training in all the three wings of defence services in some of the prestigious institutions in India, including National Defence Collge, New Delhi and National Defence Services Staff College, Wellington. 

• The cost of training under ITEC programme is borne by the Government of India, including return international airfare, course fee, accommodation, study tour and a stipend. The Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme is one of India’s most active manifestations of enhancing cooperation with our developing country partners. 

• Bangladesh is an important ITEC partner countries, and I am delighted to note that a number of participants from Bangladesh have availed of training courses under the ITEC programme. 

• Only in the last three years, more than 300 participants from Bangladesh have undergone training under ITEC. In addition, under a special \'Train the Trainer Programme in Information Technology\' sponsored by the Government of India, about 550 participants from Bangladesh have visited India in the past two years for the 6-week long training course conducted by Tata Consultancy Services (TCS).

• I would invite Bangladesh, our partner ITEC country, to make full use of this special programme, and nominate participants for various courses under ITEC programmes. I am confident that ITEC participants from Bangladesh will continue their association with India, and will also remain in touch with the Indian High Commission in Dhaka. 

• India’s links with Bangladesh are civilisational, cultural, social and economic. Partnership in capacity building, I am sure, will strengthen our close bonds of friendship even further. With these words, let me once again welcome all our guests this evening.