India ups training slots for Africans
By IANSWednesday, September 15, 2010
NEW DELHI - India has substantially increased the number of slots for training African nationals in this country’s institutions, Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao said here Wednesday.
“We have substantially increased the number of ITEC (Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation) slots for Africa,” said Rao at a function to mark the ITEC Day here Wednesday evening.
ITEC is a programme administered by the external affairs ministry to allow nationals from other developing nations to be trained in short-term courses at premier Indian educational institutions.
“Our neighbouring countries, including extended neighbourhood in Asia, constitute a natural region for our ITEC cooperation,” she said.
“In addition, Africa is a very special continent of focus, where ITEC courses have acquired great popularity,” she said.
“They have come to be seen as valued instruments for vocation training, upgradation of skills, capacity building and empowerment,” she asserted, noting that courses have also gained popularity in South America.
