High Commission of India
Suva
Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Day Celebrations 2023
Press Release
The High Commission of India in Suva organized the 59th Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Day celebrations on 25 September, 2023 at the Holiday Inn in Suva. The Chief Guest of the event was Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Strategic Planning, National Development and Statistics, Hon. Biman Prasad. Also present were Minister for Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations Hon. Agni Deo Singh, Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs Hon. Lenora Qereqeretabua, Assistant Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection Hon. Sashi Kiran, senior Government officials, diplomatic corps and distinguished ITEC Alumni.
The Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Programme is the leading capacity building platform of the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India. Instituted in 1964, ITEC is one of the oldest institutionalized arrangements for international capacity building having trained more than 200,000 officials from 160+ countries, including Fiji, in both the civilian and in the defence sector. Over the last 10 years, over 900 officials from Fiji, 82 from Kiribati, 58 from Tonga and 44 from Tuvalu have benefited from ITEC programmes.
Furthermore, as part of the 12-Step Action Plan announced by the Hon. Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the Pacific Island Countries (PICs) at the FIPIC-III Summit in Port Moresby in May 2023, India will offer 1000 fully funded scholarship slots over the next five years to participants from PICs under the Sagar Amrut Scholarships initiative. The Pacific focused initiative which is in addition to the existing Indian Technical & Economic Cooperation (ITEC) program will provide more opportunities to candidates from PICs in various areas including Hospitality & Tourism, Nursing and Healthcare, Election Management, Renewable & Sustainable Development, Media & broadcasting, e-Governance, IT & Cyber Security, Agriculture & Fisheries and other high priority areas.
Besides training opportunities, a large number of ITEC experts have been deployed over the years in Fiji and other Pacific Island Countries by Government of India in various priority areas including Health, Information Technology, Telecommunications, Agricultural Research and Food Processing. So far, 9 ITEC Experts have been deputed to Fiji in the last 10 years.
In his speech, the Chief Guest, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Hon. Biman Prasad, thanked the Government of India for the continuous support and assistance to Fiji and underlined Fiji’s commitment to build a deeper and more meaningful partnership with India.
In his remarks, the High Commissioner, P. S. Karthigeyan stated that ITEC exemplifies India’s vision of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” which looks at the entire world as one family and embodies the principle of equality, solidarity and mutual collaboration for shared growth and prosperity. Outlining the contributions of ITEC to the nation building efforts in Fiji, Kiribati, Tonga and Tuvalu and also new opportunities for both government and non-governmental sectors, he encouraged all the local stakeholders to make full use of the ITEC programme.
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