The Embassy of India in Tunis today marked the 62nd ITEC Day, commemorating the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme, at a ceremony held in the capital Tunis, in the presence of Mr. Mourad Belassoued, Chief of Cabinet of the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, representatives of the Tunisian Government, ITEC alumni and friends of the Embassy.
In her remarks on the occasion, Ambassador of India to Tunisia Dr. Devyani Uttam Khobragade highlighted the significance of ITEC as one of India’s flagship instruments of international development cooperation and one of the world’s longest-standing institutional frameworks for capacity building. Established on September 15, 1964, the programme has benefited more than 225,000 officials and professionals from over 160 partner countries across civilian and defence sectors.
The Ambassador noted that ITEC has evolved significantly over the decades to address emerging global needs, with programmes now covering areas including artificial intelligence in governance, cybersecurity, quantum computing, digital transformation, climate change, innovation, entrepreneurship and startup ecosystems. She underlined that the programme goes beyond classroom training by providing participants with opportunities to engage with Indian institutions and professionals, exchange experiences with counterparts from other countries and gain first-hand exposure to India’s diversity and development experience.
Dr. Khobragade underlined Tunisia’s importance as a valued partner in the ITEC journey, noting that more than 1,000 Tunisian nationals have benefited from training under the programme across different sectors. She called for the full and strategic use of the 100 annual ITEC slots allocated to Tunisia, while encouraging wider circulation of the programme’s opportunities and timely nominations by the relevant Tunisian institutions.
She also referred to the Sixth India–Tunisia Foreign Office Consultations held in Tunis in March 2026, during which the two sides identified agriculture, water management, renewable energy and digital public infrastructure, among other areas, as promising fields for expanded cooperation. She said these priorities are closely aligned with India’s broader bilateral approach towards Tunisia, which places emphasis on the 3T framework of Trade, Technology and Training, providing a strong foundation for the next phase of ITEC cooperation.
The Ambassador further emphasized the important role of ITEC alumni, describing them as among the programme’s most convincing ambassadors. She encouraged Tunisian alumni to remain connected with the Embassy, share their professional experiences, encourage qualified colleagues to apply for the programme and contribute to identifying emerging areas where future ITEC initiatives could respond more effectively to Tunisia’s needs.
The ceremony also provided an opportunity to recognize the continued cooperation of the Tunisian Government and the contribution of Indian training institutions, faculty members and experts to the implementation of the ITEC programme, while celebrating the professional experiences, knowledge and lasting connections developed by Tunisian participants through their engagement with India.
TunisianMonitorNews (Douha Essaafi)
