India is deeply committed to enhancing the skills of both its own specialists and those from partner nations, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of India to Belarus H.E. Ashok Kumar said at the ITEC Day event in Minsk on 9 October, BelTA has learned.
“India has always been a positive force on the global stage. We base our development support and bilateral relations on a clear understanding of our partners’ needs, focusing consistently on strengthening skills and developing human resources in friendly nations. Cooperation is the cornerstone of all our development interactions,” the diplomat said.
The ambassador emphasized that the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme, ITEC for short, is a key element of this effort. Administered by the Ministry of External Affairs, ITEC is a flagship program designed to build capacity in partner nations. “ITEC was launched in 1964, less than two decades after India had declared its independence. It was a period when the country itself faced significant economic and development challenges,” the ambassador remarked.
Despite these difficulties, India strongly believed that the world is one family and sought to share its developmental experience with like-minded nations.
“As a result, ITEC has become one of the longest-running institutional frameworks for upskilling government officials, civil servants and specialists from both the civilian and defense sectors,” the diplomat said.
The program also includes Belarusian specialists and, as the ambassador emphasized, offers participants a chance to experience India’s rich culture.
