Sixtieth anniversary of 2024 Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) program held; Chairman of State Administration Council(ITEC) program held; Chairman of State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing delivers address

Senior General Min Aung Hlaing underscored that Myanmar-Indian relations benefit technological cooperation and all economic sectors of both countries.

Chairman of the State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing delivered a speech at the ceremony to mark the 60th Anniversary of India Technical and Economic Cooperation 2024 at the Myanmar International Convention Centre II (MICC II) in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday afternoon.

A video clip on India Technical and Economic Cooperation was screened at the ceremony.

First, Indian Ambassador to Myanmar Mr Abhay Thakur explained the progress of India’s Technical and Economic Cooperation and expressed thanks to the Senior General and his wife for attending the ceremony to mark the 60th Anniversary of ITEC. The attendance of the Prime Minister showed the critical role of human resources in the sector-wise development and economic growth of Myanmar. In the coming week, India will organize Diwali Festival. Diwali and Thadingyut lighting festivals reflect friendly relations between Indian and Myanmar peoples. Hence, he prayed for strengthened relations between India and Myanmar and for lasting friendly ties.

Speaking on the occasion, the Senior General said that ITEC is a trademark of India to pledge to nurture human resources for knowledge-sharing, partnership and global development.

He recounted that Myanmar and India established their diplomatic relations on 4 January 1948 with initiatives of close relations throughout history.

The Senior General noted that Myanmar, strategically located in the focal point the Neighbourhood First policy and the Act East policy of India meet, and plays a vital role in Indian diplomacy in the Indo-Pacific region. Geographically, Myanmar, bridging South Asia and Southeast Asia, is a significant country for India, he added.

He unveiled his view that ITEC is an essential force for the South-South Cooperation.

He retold that ITEC has trained more than 200,000 staff from 160 countries in capacity-building courses since 15 September 1964, adding that ITEC is vital for the enhancement of the capacity and skills of public service personnel of Myanmar.

The Senior General expressed his gratitude to the Indian government and officials for offering more than 900 scholarships to students from 2021 to January 2024. Moreover, ITEC arranged electoral capacity-building courses for staff from the Union Election Commission of Myanmar, he added.

He pointed out that Myanmar-Indian relations benefit technological cooperation and all economic sectors of both countries.

The Senior General highlighted that India, standing as the seventh trade partner of Myanmar, conducted a total trade worth US$1,150.181 million with Myanmar up to February of 2023-24 financial year.

Moreover, India stands 11th in the chart of investments for 53 investor countries in Myanmar till January 2024.

The Senior General also expressed gratitude to the Indian government for providing humanitarian aid and relief supplies for Myanmar’s flood-affected people suffering the impacts of Typhoon Yagi, showing its friendly relations and good neighbourliness.

The Senior General disclosed that if Myanmar had a chance to attend the courses on Geographic Information (GIS) and remote sensing technology with the necessary assistance to be applied in disaster risk reduction and early warning system, Myanmar would reduce its loss and damage in the disasters.

A ceremony to exchange the memorandum of understanding on the implementation of the Quick Impact Projects-QIPs between Myanmar and India followed.

In the presence of Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, officials from relevant ministries and the deputy head of mission of the Indian Embassy exchanged the MoUs on the upgrade of a digital criminal science laboratory, provision of teaching aid for Myanmar’s management development school, rural water supply through solar energy in the villages facing water shortage in the dry region of Myanmar, construction of AI laboratory at Yangon University, and the making slow pyrolysis with the use of farming waste and the use of fuel from tar-free biomass pyrolysis experiments as witnesses of Union Minister for Investment and Foreign Economic Relations Dr Kan Zaw and Indian Ambassador Mr Abhay Thakur.

The Senior General, his wife, and attendees enjoyed the cultural dance of students from Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre (SVCC), the Ramayana dance troupe, and Myanmar traditional dances.

Former trainees of ITEC shared their experiences.

The Senior General and his wife had the dinner to mark the 60th Anniversary of ITEC for 2024 together with attendees.

Also present at the ceremony were SAC Joint Secretary General Ye Win Oo and his wife, council members and their wives, Union ministers, union-level dignitaries and their wives, Indian Ambassador to Myanmar Mr Abhay Thakur and his wife, senior Tatmadaw officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief and their wives, deputy ministers, Indian Defence Attachés to Myanmar and embassy officials. — MNA/TTA

Source- The Global New Light Of Myanmar