More India Investment Coming
By:Masahudu Ankiilu Kunateh
Email:kankiilu@yahoo.com
In a bid to consolidate the India-Ghana bilateral relationship, the Indian government is providing a line of Credit, worth US$ 35 million for the Komenda Sugar Plant Project, whose implementation is at an advanced stage.
In addition this, another the line of Credit of US$7.4 million for the Fish Harvesting and Fish Processing Plant is also being implemented by an Indian company in consultations with the Ghana’s Ministries of Agriculture and Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, while President Mahama’s pet Tomato project, worth US$2.088 million, has been approved by the Indian government to its Ghanaian counterpart.
The Indian High Commissioner to Ghana, H.E Rajinder Bhagat made these known at a dinner to mark this year’s celebration of the Indian technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) in Accra.
ITEC was launched by the Government of Indian on September 15, 1964 as a bilateral programme of assistance to developing countries including Ghana.
Under the ITEC and its corollary Special Commonwealth Assistance Programme for African Countries (SCAAP), 158 developing countries are invited to share in the Indian Development experience acquired over six decades of our existence as a free nation.
ITEC is unique because of its wide geographical coverage, and the innovative forms of technical cooperation that it employs, Mr. Bhagat told the well-attended gathering.
He explained: “ITEC programme has benefited thousands of students and professionals from Africa, including Ghana, who were trained in professional institutions in India. Since the inception of the programme in 1964, India has provided technical assistance worth more than US$ 12 million annually on ITEC activities”.
Mr. Bhagat continued: “It has six components training, project and related activities (i.e. feasibility studies and consultancy services), deputation of experts abroad, study tours, gifting / donation of equipment and aid for disaster relief.
The entire expenditure for training, including to and fro airfare, tuition fees, and accommodation and living expenses is met by the Government of India”.
The India High Commission in Ghana therefore celebrates ITEC Day which falls on 1st March every year to mark this milestone in its technical and economic cooperation programme and to celebrate international friendship and south –south cooperation.
ITEC Day provides a platform to all ITEC alumni to come together and share their experiences of learning, working and living in India. These interactions provide us useful feedback about the programme and help in making the courses more productive and results oriented.
Raging from short term courses of couple of weeks duration to Diplomas and Masters Degrees of 1-2 years duration, ITEC courses over diverse field such as agriculture and agro processing, entrepreneurship development , tool design, small business creation, telemedicine, energy, promotion of rural industries, information technology, among others.
He noted that Ghana has been one of the major participant countries under the ITEC Scheme. ITEC’s slots for Ghana have been increase to 150 from 125 for the year 2013 -13. During the financial year 2012-13, Ghanaian professionals and students have been able to utilize all the ITEC slots earmarked for Ghana.
In addition, similar course/ straining programme under decision of India – Africa Forum Summit decisions are also available to Ghanaian officials. A total of 187 (150 + 37) students/ professionals were trained under ITEC and other schemes in 2012-13. Since the commencement of the ITEC Schemes, over 1500 Ghanaian students and professionals have been trained in India, Mr. Bhagat revealed.
He added that apart from the training of civilian personnel, ITEC also imparts training to defense personal in various defense institutions in India. Some of the ITEC alumni, the Indian diplomat said have reached the top echelons in their respective professions.
The ITEC Day also coincides with the International Students Day in India. The International Students Day is celebrated to mark the birthday of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, a great stalwart of the Indian freedom struggle, an eminent educationist and the first Union Minister of Education of the Republic of India.
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