More Jamaicans to benefit from ITEC programme in India
THIRTY-FIVE Jamaicans will participate in and benefit from the Indian Technical Economic Cooperation Programme (ITEC) in the coming year.
Senator Pearnel Charles Jr, minister of state in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, and Sevala Naik, high commissioner of India to Jamaica, recently discussed expanding the 50-year-old programme in which public sector and quasi-government employees are given the opportunity to spend two to six months receiving technical training in areas of special interest in India.
The discussions formed part of a courtesy Call at the foreign ministry’s New Kingston offices on May 1.
“The interaction and exchange that this programme offers is an important part of our foreign policy, and it is hoped we can expand the ITEC,” Charles said.
Charles stated that Jamaica and India shared commonalities which include Commonwealth membership; democratic principles; and an interest in promoting South-South cooperation, which redounds well for increased and deeper bilateral collaboration.
They also discussed deepening the partnership in vocational training, energy-efficiency programmes, and agriculture, particularly sugar cane farming.
It is expected that further discussions will be held between Jamaican and Indian stakeholders over the coming months with a view to advancing the various areas of cooperation that have been identified.