S Jaishankar says India’s ties with Africa are guided by partners’ needs and priorities, highlighting ITEC’s role in capacity building and development.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has highlighted that India’s engagement with African countries is guided by the needs, priorities and aspirations of its partners. Speaking to alumni of the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme in Cote d’Ivoire, he underlined the importance of development cooperation and capacity building in strengthening India-Africa relations.
Jaishankar referred to the Kampala principles outlined by Prime Minister Narendra Modi several years ago, describing them as an important framework for India’s approach towards its African partners. He said India’s development partnership has remained a central component of its engagement with the continent.
ITEC at the centre of India’s development partnership
S Jaishankar said the ITEC programme provides an important platform for India to share its experience and expertise with partner countries. The programme covers areas ranging from governance and technology to security and development.
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According to the minister, ITEC is not simply about transferring knowledge from India to other countries. He emphasised that India also gains valuable insights from participants who come from partner nations and contribute their own experiences during the programmes.
The initiative allows professionals from participating countries to exchange knowledge, explore best practices and develop skills that can support their respective national development goals.
ITEC now covers more than 160 partner nations
S Jaishankar noted that ITEC has completed 62 years since its establishment in 1964. Over the decades, the programme has developed into one of India’s key capacity-building and international cooperation initiatives.
The programme currently works with more than 160 partner countries and provides nearly 10,000 fully funded training opportunities every year. These courses cover a broad range of sectors, including information and communication technology, digital governance, public administration, banking, finance, agriculture, energy and skill development.
The programme also includes specialised areas such as defence, security and counter-terrorism, creating a wide-ranging framework for capacity building.
Cote d’Ivoire has used around 800 ITEC slots
Highlighting bilateral ties, S Jaishankar said Cote d’Ivoire remains an important partner for India in West Africa. According to him, the West African nation has utilised around 800 ITEC training slots over the past 12 years.
India sees these exchanges as an important investment in human resource development. Jaishankar stressed that while infrastructure and official visits are important, personal relationships built through educational and professional exchanges create lasting connections between countries.
He said the experiences, friendships and memories developed through such programmes become an important form of long-term capital for bilateral relations.
India supports Cote d’Ivoire’s development goals
S Jaishankar also reiterated India’s support for Cote d’Ivoire’s economic development, governance transformation and security objectives. He said capacity-building cooperation through ITEC can help the country strengthen its human resources and develop the skills required for a modern economy.
The minister noted that India remains committed to being a reliable partner as Cote d’Ivoire works towards its development priorities.
India currently has 123 ITEC slots committed in the defence category and another 100 on the civilian side, reflecting the importance New Delhi places on continued exchanges with the country.
Human connections remain central to India-Africa ties
The remarks by S Jaishankar underline India’s broader approach to its partnership with Africa, where capacity building, knowledge sharing and professional exchanges form an important part of diplomatic engagement.
Through initiatives such as ITEC, India seeks to build partnerships based not only on economic cooperation but also on skills, institutional experience and people-to-people connections.
The continued participation of African professionals in the programme is expected to remain an important element of India’s development partnership with the continent.
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