Indian Embassy marks 59th year of sci-tech scholarship program in Turkish capital

By Merve Berker

ANKARA (AA) — The Indian Embassy in Türkiye on Friday celebrated the 59th anniversary of the establishment of Indian Technological and Economic Cooperation Program (ITEC) with a reception on the scholarship program.

"This is an occasion to bring together those who have availed training programs and scholarships granted by the Government of India to pursue various educational and training programs in India," Deputy Chief of Mission Alpana Dubey said in her opening speech at the event in Ankara.

Noting that the mission was launched by the Indian government in September 1964, she said it was the "flagship program of India's development cooperation for capacity building with 160 partner countries and 13 multilateral agencies for training in premier institutions in India every year."

She emphasized the importance of "development cooperation" for New Delhi and further stressed the South Asian country's commitment "to remain a reliable development partner by sharing its own vast development experience."

"The countries of Global South are important partners for India and ITEC is a good example of the South-South cooperation and is based on the needs and priorities of our partners," the mission's chief underscored.

On the training program, she said it led to the "formation of professional and economic inter-linkages, which in turn generate the ecosystem for co-creation of mutually beneficial policies and technologies."

"It also helps in building bridges of friendship," which she described as "more valuable than the technical side.

In addition, she talked about how Türkiye and India work together on the matter.

"Türkiye has been India's ITEC partner since 1964," she noted, adding that over 300 people from different professions have benefited from the program's courses so far.

"There is a huge opportunity to promote cooperation in the field of culture and education between the two countries," she said, calling on Turkish people to "spread the word" about these programs.

- ITEC, success of India-Türkiye cooperation

Also addressing the event, Turkish Foreign Ministry deputy director general for East Asia Sadin Ayyildiz expressed his gratitude for the "solidarity and support" India demonstrated in times of needs for Turkish people.

"I believe that our solidarity should be manifested not only in times of urgent needs," he said. "We must also embrace technical, scientific, academic, cultural, and other types of collaborations to further contribute to the capacity building and development in our countries in these areas."

Describing ITEC as a successful example of such cooperation, he said: "Thanks to the capacity building efforts of ITEC in Türkiye, many Turkish officials from multiple governmental institutions have received trainings in various fields and sectors in India."

On the impact of higher education scholarships Türkiye has provided to students from other countries, including India, Ayyildiz said more than 350 Indian citizens have benefited from the program since 1990s.

He said the leaders of both countries "have been deeply committed to effective multilateralism for a peaceful and prosperous world."

"Both Türkiye and India, as G-20 members, have a vital stake in the stability of global economic system," he stated, adding: "India's successful G-20 presidency has been critical in defining the collective actions to be taken in overcoming immediate global challenges with the aim of creating one world, one family, one future."

"With the goal in mind, we can deepen our cooperation in a very variety of areas such as infrastructure building, tourism, civil aviation, information technologies, health care, e-commerce, renewable energy and space industry," he asserted.