Jaishankar Calls ITEC a Key Pillar of India's Capacity-Building Efforts in Cote d'Ivoire

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has described the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme as one of India’s key mechanisms for capacity building, highlighting its role in strengthening ties with partner countries, including Côte d’Ivoire. Addressing ITEC alumni in Abidjan, Jaishankar said the programme, launched in 1964, has grown into an important tool of India’s international engagement. It currently covers more than 160 partner countries and provides nearly 10,000 fully funded training opportunities each year in diverse fields.

Jaishankar said India’s development partnership with African nations is guided by the needs and priorities of its partners. He noted that ITEC enables India to share its experience in areas such as development, governance, security, technology and institutional practices, while also providing opportunities to learn from partner countries.

The programme covers a broad range of sectors, including information and communication technology, digital governance, public administration, banking and finance, agriculture, energy, skill development, defence, security and counter-terrorism. According to Jaishankar, the objective is to offer a comprehensive platform capable of addressing the varied requirements of partner nations.

Speaking about India-Côte d’Ivoire relations, Jaishankar said the two countries share longstanding and friendly ties, with capacity building forming an important part of their partnership. He said around 800 ITEC training slots had been utilised by Côte d’Ivoire over the past 12 years, describing the engagement as a significant investment in human resources and long-term bilateral relations.

He added that 123 training slots have been allocated in the defence sector and another 100 for civilian programmes. Jaishankar stressed that regular exchanges and personal connections created through such programmes are an important part of strengthening relations between the two countries. Describing Côte d’Ivoire as an important partner for India in West Africa, Jaishankar said New Delhi remains supportive of the country’s economic development, governance reforms and security and defence priorities.

He said India would continue to be a reliable partner as Côte d’Ivoire works to strengthen its human capital and develop the skills required to support economic transformation and effective governance. Jaishankar said on X that he was pleased to meet ITEC alumni in Côte d’Ivoire and hear about their experiences. He said India’s capacity-building programmes are designed to respond to the needs of partner countries while helping build stronger people-to-people connections. Jaishankar also expressed appreciation to Koffi N'Guessan, Côte d’Ivoire’s Minister of National Education, Literacy and Technical Education and a former ITEC participant, for attending the interaction.