Africa-Press – Liberia. The Embassy of India in Liberia has commemorated the 2026 ITEC Day in Monrovia, celebrating decades of cooperation between India and Liberia while reaffirming a shared commitment to capacity building, professional excellence, and sustainable development. ITEC Day is officially observed every year on September 15, marking the launch of the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Programme in 1964. Although the official date falls later in the year, India’s Ambassador to Liberia, Manoj Bihari Verma, expressed delight at celebrating the occasion with Liberia’s ITEC family. Ambassador Verma described ITEC as one of India’s flagship capacity-building initiatives, noting that over the past six decades, the programme has trained more than 225,000 professionals from over 160 countries worldwide. He disclosed that over 500 Liberian professionals have directly benefited from the programme, gaining access to specialized knowledge, technical expertise, and best practices designed to strengthen institutions and promote development. According to the Indian envoy, the ITEC programme is deeply rooted in the ancient Indian philosophy of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam,” meaning “the whole world is one family.” He explained that this guiding principle underscores India’s approach to international cooperation, emphasizing mutual respect, solidarity, and shared prosperity through carefully designed training courses delivered by India’s vast network of higher educational institutions and centers of excellence. “I am happy to share that India usually offers 70 ITEC training slots every year for Liberian professionals. For the current financial year, this number has been increased to 120 slots,” Ambassador Verma announced. Reflecting on his arrival in Liberia last year, Ambassador Verma observed that ITEC slots were initially underutilized. However, through the concerted efforts of the Embassy and strong collaboration with Liberian partner institutions, full utilization of all allocated slots was achieved by mid-year. He noted that this success led to an additional allocation of 50 slots, bringing the total to 120 for the year, which he described as “an outstanding accomplishment.” Beyond ITEC, Ambassador Verma highlighted India’s support for Liberian students through the ICCR India–Africa Maitri Scholarship and other schemes. He revealed that this year, ten Liberian students have been admitted to prestigious Indian Institutes of Technology, including IIT Madras, IIT Delhi, IIT Bombay, and IIT Roorkee, for master’s degree programmes, while five additional students have joined other leading Indian institutions. He further recalled that last year, 27 Liberian nurses successfully completed training under ITEC in Nursing Leadership and Management at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) in Chandigarh, one of India’s foremost medical institutions. “Even as we gather here this evening, a group of 30 mining officers from Liberia are participating in a specialized training programme on Occupational Health, Safety, and Inspection for Mining and Exploration at the prestigious Indian Institute of Coal Mines in Ranchi,” he added. Ambassador Verma also praised the Monrovia City Corporation and Liberia’s law enforcement sector as steadfast partners in ITEC capacity building. He disclosed that officers from the Liberia National Police, Liberia Immigration Service, Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency, Liberia National Fire Service, as well as personnel from the Liberia Revenue Authority, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Agriculture, and other institutions have benefited from ITEC training. Additionally, he noted that four officers from the Liberian Legislature recently participated in the 37th Parliamentary Internship Programme at the Parliamentary Research and Training Institute for Democracies in New Delhi, further strengthening parliamentary and democratic cooperation between the two countries. “We are particularly honoured this evening to have among us several ITEC alumni who are holding positions of leadership and responsibility,” Ambassador Verma said, recognizing Nat Bayjay, Deputy Minister for Technical Services; Emmanuel Fred, Assistant Minister at the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications; Mahmoud Solomon, Commissioner for Land Administration at the Liberia Land Authority; and Emmanuel Nyuma Bawoh, Peace and Security Adviser at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The celebration also marked the launch of the revamped ITEC Alumni Association of Liberia, which Ambassador Verma described as a platform for staying connected, sharing experiences, and supporting one another. He expressed confidence that the Association would grow into “an active, useful and vibrant community” that will further strengthen the bonds between India and Liberia. For More News And Analysis About Liberia Follow Africa-Press
