05 Nov 2023

The Assistant Minister of Education, Ms Nnaniki Makwinja, emphasised the importance of the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme in upgrading knowledge and skills in Botswana.

The assistant mnister was speaking at ITEC celebrations day in Gaborone recently.

She praised ITEC for its role in providing technical assistance, technology transfer, and capacity building, which are crucial in enhancing productivity and improving work ethics in the national workforce.

She said that ITEC was a demand-driven programme that offered numerous free scholarships in various fields, thus she  encouraged all ministries to take advantage of the program by training their employees, both through short courses and online platforms, to improve their skills and work professionally.

Expressing gratitude to India, Ms Makwinja commended ITEC as a response-oriented program that addresses the needs of Botswana’s workforce through innovative technological aspects.

She acknowledged the strong bilateral relations between India and Botswana and their support for each other in various multilateral forums.

The High Commissioner of India to Botswana and special representative to SADC, Mr Bharath Kumar Kuthati, highlighted the long-standing collaboration between the two countries through the ITEC program.

He said that since the program’s inception in 1964, hundreds of Batswana from government, parastatals, and the private sector had benefited from ITEC.

“Close to 1,100 Batswana have attended civilian courses since 2007, with 200 slots allocated to civilian employees and 61 to defense training personnel,” she said.

Additionally, India has provided 54 fully funded scholarships to Batswana students to pursue bachelors and masters courses.

Mr Kuthati acknowledged Botswana’s early response to the nation-building, which attracted many Indian professionals to contribute to Botswana’s socio-economic progress.

He saidthat Indian-owned enterprises were among the largest employment generators in Botswana and highlighted their efforts to indigenise the workforce.

Mr Kuthati assured continued support from India in Botswana’s development efforts, focusing on building capacity for the global good.

Therefore, he encouraged ITEC Alumni to maintain their engagement and work towards developing partnerships and cooperation between the two countries for mutual benefits.

The ITEC Day is celebrated annually to provide an opportunity for alumni to come together and interact with government officials to share their experiences.

Mr Tlhalefang Rasedibo, who recently traveled to India through the ITEC program, expressed his gratitude to the Indian High Commission for the diversity, history, culture, and skills and knowledge he acquired there.

He emphasised that apart from technical skills, they also experienced the vibrant cultural and architectural marvels of India and gained valuable insights for developing business entrepreneurship in Botswana. ENDS