External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has said India’s development partnership with African nations is shaped by the requirements and priorities identified by its partner countries. Addressing participants and alumni of the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation programme in Cote d’Ivoire, he stressed that capacity building remains a major part of India’s engagement with the continent. He said the approach is intended to ensure that cooperation delivers practical benefits based on local needs.
Jaishankar highlighted the role of the ITEC programme in sharing India’s experience in areas such as governance, technology, development and security. He said the programme is not limited to transferring knowledge from India, as institutions and professionals in partner countries also provide valuable experiences and perspectives in return. This two-way interaction, he noted, helps create stronger institutional and people-to-people connections.
The minister said ITEC, which was launched in 1964, has entered its 62nd year and has grown considerably over the decades. The programme now covers more than 160 partner countries and provides close to 10,000 fully funded training opportunities annually. Its areas of focus include digital governance, public administration, banking, agriculture, energy, skill development, defence, security and counter-terrorism.
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Cote d’Ivoire has been an active participant in the programme, using around 800 ITEC training opportunities over the past 12 years. Jaishankar described the participation as an important investment in developing human resources and strengthening the relationship between the two countries. He also noted that 123 training slots have been committed for defence-related areas and another 100 for civilian fields, reflecting the breadth of ongoing exchanges.
Jaishankar described Cote d’Ivoire as an important Indian partner in West Africa and said New Delhi supports the country’s efforts towards economic growth, governance and security. He underlined that regular exchanges allow officials and professionals from both countries to develop familiarity and maintain long-term institutional links. Such connections, he said, form an important foundation for sustained bilateral cooperation.
The External Affairs Minister further said India remains committed to supporting Cote d’Ivoire according to its evolving requirements. Capacity-building initiatives under ITEC are intended to strengthen professional skills and contribute to human-resource development as the country’s economy and institutions continue to evolve. The engagement reflects India’s broader emphasis on development cooperation that responds to the priorities of its African partners.
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