The Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Programme was established in 1964 as a bilateral programme of assistance of the Government of India.
The ITEC/SCAAP Programme has the following components:
Training (civilian and defence) in India of nominees from ITEC partner countries;
Projects and project related activities such as feasibility studies and consultancy services;
Deputation of Indian experts abroad;
Study Tours;
Gifts/Donations of equipment at the request of ITEC partner countries;
Aid for Disaster Relief.
Training or capacity building is one of the major activities under ITEC. The professionals and people from developing countries are offered unique training courses, both civilian and defence, in different centres of excellence in India which empower them with not just professional skills, but prepare them for an increasingly globalized world. Civilian Training Programme is fully sponsored by the Government of India. There are 47 empanelled institutions conducting 280 short-term, medium-term and long-term courses during the year. The training programme is demand-driven and subjects sele cted are of interest to developing countries for their working professionals on a wide and diverse range of skills and disciplines.
Project-related Cooperation: India assists ITEC partner countries to establish useful infrastructure facilities with technology and skills appropriate to their resources and needs. Through project assistance, India also demonstrates the skills, technologies and human resource capabilities, which it has acquired in the course of its own development. A number of bilateral projects are undertaken, notably in the fields of archaeological conservation, Information Technology, (IT) and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).
Deputation of Indian Experts: Indian experts are deputed to friendly countries on their request to assist in developmental activities. The experts study the problems and suggest solutions without disturbing the local socio-economic and cultural environment. Some of the fields covered in recent years have been creative arts, pest management, military training, IT, audit, medicine, English teaching, telecommunications, agricultural research, etc.
Study tours in India are undertaken at the specific request of ITEC partner countries. Specific areas of interest are identified and two to three weeks programme is arranged during which the delegates are taken to important institutions, training centres, and places of interest in different parts of India.
The Government of India provides gifts / donations of equipment to ITEC partner countries to assist in their developmental efforts. These gifts/ donations are usually in response to requests of these friendly countries and the commitments made by the political leadership.
Under the Programme 'Aid for Disaster Relief' India supplies humanitarian aid like food grains, medicines and similar other items to countries struck by natural disasters. Cash assistance is also provided.
More information may be found at the ITEC Official web-site: http://itec.mea.gov.in/?1320?000