Ambassador Speeches

 SPEECH ON 27 MARCH 2025 – ITEC DAY RECEPTION AT OSH 

• His Excellency  Mr Nurbek Kadyrov, Osh Vice Mayor
• RECTOR: PROF. KUDAIBERDI GAPARALIVICH KOZHOBEKOV, Rector Osh State university
• PROF. ROMAN KALMATOVICH KALMATOV, Dean of Osh State University

My dear ITEC Alumni,

Distinguished Guests,

Friends from the Media,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good Evening,

I am honored to address you all on this special occasion of celebtration the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme (ITEC Day) celebtrations at this beautiful city of Osh.

The Embassy celebtrated its first ITEC Day at Bishkek on 27 November 2024 and Embassy has scheduled second ITEC Day celebtrations in Osh for interaction with  ITEC alumni from Osh and Jalal-Abad who could not travel to Bishkek.

As you know, Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme (ITEC) was launched in the year 1964,   is the leading capacity building platform of the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India. It is one of the oldest institutional arrangements for international capacity building.  The philosophy behind ITEC programme is that of ‘Vasudeva Kutumbakam’ which means the world is one family. In the words of the Prime Minister of India H.E. Mr. Narendra Modi, India’s offer of development aid and our development model are guided by the developmental requirements of partner countries. Our focus has always been on Capacity Building and Resource Development. Today, the ITEC programme offers nearly 10,000 fully-funded in-person training opportunities through nearly 400 programmes offered at more than 100 eminent institutes in India each year.

India has so far trained more than Two Hundred Thousand officials from more than 160 countries in both civilian and defence sectors under the ITEC programme.

ITEC partnership between India and Kyrgyzstan  has been on-going for the last three decades. This partnership has been intense with emphasis laid on institutionalized capacity building of civil servants and defence personnel of the Kyrgyz Republic. We are extremely encouraged by the enthusiastic response of participants from the Kyrgyz Republic in the ITEC programmes. Government of India  offered 100 ITEC slots to the Kyrgyz Republic each year  but after the pandemic the response from Kyrgyz Republic is lukewarm. The Embassy would therefore request all alumni present here today are expected to encourage others to participate in this capacity building programme and gain knowledge.

 It is a matter of great pride that the ITEC alumni is nearly 1,500 in the Kyrgyz Republic  who have returned to their country equipped with the expertise to contribute to its development. The ITEC program is a testament to India's commitment to supporting the growth and development of fellow developing nations, and its partnership with Kyrgyzstan has been particularly strong and fruitful.  ITEC has been instrumental in building the capacity of Kyrgyz officials, business executives, and defense personnel, providing them with valuable skills and knowledge in various fields.

The ITEC programmes have been designed by utilizing India’s vast and rich network of governance and development related expertise available in higher educational institutions and training facilities.  The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic affected the on-campus courses but motivated us to innovate and thereby introduce e-ITEC for online training programmes using digital delivery platforms. Several new initiatives include programmes such as ITEC-Executive which are short term training programmes for Senior Government Executives of partner countries focusing on policy issues. There are also ITEC-Onsite and ITEC-Expert programmes in which Indian Experts carry out onsite capacity building assignments. These programmes have generated immense goodwill and substantive cooperation among the developing countries.

 Governemnt of India also responds to the country-specific request for training in specific areas of governance by organising customized training programmes. These  special training programmes are curated and organized by the leading institutions in India. ITEC Cell of the Ministry organised the programme “Preparation of Investment Projects” in January 2023  for the civil servants of the Kyrgyz Republic. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Kyrgyz government, the ITEC alumni, and all those who have contributed to the success of this program.

Thank you for your continued support and partnership. May our cooperation continue to flourish for many years to come.

Best wishes for the month of Ramadan