Menase Kifle
10 February 2008
Addis Abeba — India will step up its cooperation with Africa in the technical and economic capacity building programs to diversify its economy and expand markets.
This was stated while marking the 43rd anniversary of Indian technical and economical cooperation (ITEC) on Wednesday at the Indian embassy here in the presence of UNECA Deputy Executive Secretary Lalla Ben Barka, Adebabay Abay advisor to the minister of capacity building on training and education and Eyesuswork Zaffu president of the Addis Ababa chamber of commerce.
Speaking on the occasion, Lalla Ben Barka said the issue of capacity building was fundamental to Africa where the issue is becoming a matter of major concern.
She said in that regard, that a new research agenda on the growing trade between Africa and India, and China was initiated to be conducted.
India in support of NEPAD is providing a credit line of 200 million USD, the Deputy Executive Secretary noted.
The ITEC facilitates training programs where Indian experts are called for to conduct training programs on a host of subject areas intended to build the capacity of participants to become more productive in their respective professions.
It also conducts feasibility studies and arranges venues for the sharing of ideas amongst partners and stakeholders.
More than 450 Ethiopians have so far benefited from the training program implemented by ITEC.
"ECA sees the expanding relation between Africa and India as an important part of south-south cooperation" said Ben Barka She also highlighted on the support of India to the ECA by helping it set up a state of the art knowledge platform which she said would result in a significant improvement of ECA's web presence through the implementation of a content management system Representing the Ethiopian government, Adebabay Abay highlighted technical cooperation and capacity building as key issues in the development endeavors of the country and noted that transfer of technical knowledge on demand bases was of paramount importance.
Eyesuswork Zaffu said for his part that ITEC program was a diversified program which "helps Ethiopia a lot to build its capacities and that it is a blessing that the program is coming from India since India is a "partner of choice." He said private public sector partnership would prove to be an engine of growth for the country.
Also on the occasion, which was organized at the Indian embassy here winners of the design workshop competition the embassy organized in were announced.
The competition was held in October last year as part of the embassy's capacity building initiative to train Ethiopian designers.
Diplomas and certificates were distributed to all participants and the names of four winners to go to India for a 15 day training tour were announced.
India and Ethiopia signed the first agreement for India to assist Ethiopia in capacity building in the year 1969.
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F**k the west! Vive China and India!
Strategic partnership. I guess China and India is planting their seeds in Africa.
U.S.A
bless india and china. no more western colonization.