Embassy of India, Muscat, celebrated ‘Indian Technical & Economic Cooperation Programme (ITEC) Day’ 2017 on Monday, 27 February, with participation of ITEC alumni from Oman. Over 200 Omani Officials and professionals, who participated in various training courses in India under ITEC Programme during previous years, attended the programme. The event was graced by the presence of H.E. Sheikh Khalid bin Omar Al Marhoon, Minister of Civil Service of Sultanate of Oman as Chief Guest and other Omani dignitaries including H.E. Amb. Sheikh Hilal Marhoon Salem Al Ma’amari, Chief of West Asia Department; H.E. Mohsin Khamis Al Balushi, Advisor, Ministry of Commerce & Industry; H.E. Redha Al Saleh, Vice Chairman of Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

H.E. Indra Mani Pandey, Ambassador of India to the Sultanate of Oman, in his welcome address, thanked the International Cooperation Department of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Oman for its support in implementation of the ITEC Programme in Oman. He underlined that ITEC Programme of India provides a perfect opportunity to Oman for development of its human resources and skills. Training and skill development under India’s ITEC Programme contributes directly and significantly to Oman’s goals to develop its human resources and its priority for diversification of its economy through small & medium enterprises (SMEs). A wide variety of training courses are offered under the ITEC Programme, which are open to both Governmental Officials and non-Governmental nominees, chosen by the Government of Oman. The skills which are being provided under ITEC Programme facilitate human resource development, capacity building, skills upgradation and empowerment.

In view of India’s exceptionally close relations with Oman and Oman’s interests, Government of India offers 150 scholarships annually under the ITEC programme to Officials and other nominees of Government of Oman to undertake short-duration training programmes in a number of fields in reputed Indian institutes. Over the years, ITEC Programme has received a good response in the Sultanate and hundreds of Omani Government officials have taken part in ITEC courses.

Today, there is a visible and growing awareness in the world about the capabilities of India to provide technical know-how and expertise as well as training, consultancy services, etc. ITEC Programme, which was launched in September 1964 as a bilateral programme of assistance of the Government of India for capacity building of friendly developing countries, has emerged as a key vehicle for India’s contribution to the Human Resource Development of partner countries. Under ITEC Programme, Officials from 161 countries from Asia, Africa, East Europe, Latin America, the Caribbean as well as Pacific and Small Island countries are invited to benefit from India’s developmental experience.

Under the ITEC Programme, every year India provides over 8000 scholarships to be utilized for participation in around 300 short, medium and long-term courses in 47 institutions which are state-of-art centers of learning & excellence. The ITEC Programme covers a very diverse range of subjects from traditional areas like agriculture, SMEs, management, English language to IT, Science & Technology, biotechnology, etc. Over the years, the ITEC Programme has emerged as a key pillar of India’s cooperation with the developing countries.

‘ITEC Day’ celebration is India’s annual endeavor to bring all ITEC alumni together so that they can share their experiences and views on India with one another. The ITEC Day provided an opportunity to the ITEC Alumni, who have been trained in India under this Programme, to get-together at the Embassy to interact among themselves and learn from their experiences. ITEC Alumni were invited to speak to share their experience of training under the ITEC Programme in India. They spoke about the benefits of ITEC courses not only in providing knowledge and expertise but in giving an opportunity to interact with trainees from other countries and learn more about India and its culture and traditions. The guests were presented a flavor of Indian culture in the form of kathak and semi-classical dance performances depicting richness and diversity of Indian culture.