President Dr. Irfaan Ali has issued a strong call to action to regional leaders, urging them to take full advantage of the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme after expressing disappointment over the region’s low uptake of its extensive training opportunities.
Speaking at the opening of the Association of Caribbean Police Commissioners’ Annual General Meeting and Conference in Guyana, President Ali highlighted the significant benefits that the ITEC programme offers to Caribbean nations. He noted that despite thousands of fully funded training slots available annually, very few applications have been submitted from the region, representing a missed opportunity to build capacity across critical sectors.
“When Prime Minister Modi was here, he emphasised that there are thousands of training opportunities under the ITEC programme in India. In the last four years, hundreds of our officers have benefited from training in the ITEC programme in the most sophisticated fields at every level. I found out that they have not received any or very few applications from the region for training under the ITEC programme,” President Ali stated.
He challenged police commissioners and other regional leaders to thoroughly review the ITEC offerings, identify areas that could benefit their institutions, and ensure that applications are submitted promptly. President Ali also pledged to personally follow up on all applications from the region, emphasizing his commitment to maximizing the region’s participation in the programme.
The ITEC programme, administered by India’s Ministry of External Affairs, is one of the world’s leading capacity-building platforms, having trained over 200,000 officials from more than 160 countries since its inception in 1964. It covers a wide range of disciplines, including governance, technology, agriculture, health, and security, and is fully funded by the Government of India.
President Ali’s call comes at a time when capacity building and skills development are increasingly vital for the region’s growth and resilience. He urged leaders not to let these valuable opportunities go untapped, highlighting the transformative impact that such training can have on public service and national development.
As the conference continues, regional leaders are expected to discuss strategies for increasing participation in ITEC and other international training programmes, with the aim of strengthening institutions and enhancing service delivery across the Caribbean.
