APART from capacity building training, India is deeply involved in partnership cooperation with Guyana on many projects since this cooperation is purely driven by Guyana’s requirements and priorities.
This is according to India’s High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr. K. J. Srinivasa during recent remarks at Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Day, held recently, to commemorate bilateral relations between India and Guyana.

The High Commissioner said that some of the projects that the partnership covers include: the East Bank Demerara and East Coast Demerara link road project; supply of ocean-going ferry, Upgrading of three primary hospitals, supply of fixed and mobile pumps, establishment of ITEC Centre of Excellence, supply of pilot scale rice husk gasifier, all of which at various stages of implementation.

“We may proudly say that more than 500 Guyanese have been trained under [the] ITEC scheme and another 100 from Antigua and Barbuda, St. Kitts and Nevis and also from CARICOM Secretariat and the British Administered Territory – Anguilla which fall under the jurisdiction of High Commission of India seated in Georgetown,” he noted.
Dr. Srinivasa said any private individual applicant or person requiring assistance in training or skill development can under ITEC can apply directly to the High Commission.
He added that “organizations like the Chambers of Commerce, Private Sector Commission, GMSA or even a private company can nominate suitable candidates directly to the High Commission.”

He explained that such applications will be considered under discretionary mechanism.
“This is to promote private sector in seeking skill development to ensure the availability of a highly skilled ICT workforce and to act as a tool for furthering relations between the two countries in future. I would like to request all the partners from the Government and private sector to avail the opportunity to the maximum to the High Commission in our efforts to enhance the number of ITEC slots for the next year from the current allotment to Guyana, CARICOM, etc.,” Dr Srinivasa said.
Further, the ambassador said that the Government of India, under its Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), also offers, annually, about 3,940 scholarships under 26 different schemes to foreign students from about 140 counties.
“India is known as an education hub attracting international students from all over the world. India’s diversity and vibrant history tender a broad range of options for students,” he explained.
Adding that India being a rapidly growing country on the cutting edge of the technological revolution, Dr. Srinivasa said studying in India has much to offer, whether an applicant’s interest is in Engineering, Computers, Philosophy, Politics or in Classics, amongst others.
He explained that the courses offered for studies are for under-graduate, post-graduate and PhD levels.

In every academic year, the diplomat said, ICCR holds about 6,000 plus foreign students who are studying at various Central/State Universities, Institutes and Agricultural Institutions amongst others.
“These scholarships are also offered to Guyana. The ICCR portal contains all relevant information regarding ICCR-sponsored scholarship schemes and other information like name of the Indian universities, courses offered by them and guidelines of scholarship schemes etc. In the academic year 2018-19, approximately 2,150 new foreign students have been confirmed for admission in various universities of India,” Dr. Srinivasa said.
Moreover, he said in all the recent development co-operation initiatives, capacity building has been a central theme.

Recently, he said the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, during his interaction with CARICOM leaders on 25th September 2019, on the sidelines of the UNGA in New York, announced special capacity building courses, training and deputation of experts based on the needs and requirements of the CARICOM countries.
“He also offered assistance of US$ 14 million Grant (US$ 1million per CARICOM member state) for quick impact community development projects in CARICOM countries, and US$ 150 million Line of Credit for CARICOM countries for solar energy and climate change-related projects,” the High Commissioner noted.
He explained that development cooperation has always played a central role in India’s foreign policy.

“Ever since our Independence, India has been committed to remain a steadfast and reliable developmental partner by sharing its own vast development experience of over seven decades. India’s relations with partner countries are based on the principles of equality, mutual respect for sovereignty and freedom of action and choice. It is not based on competition, conditionalities or prescriptions. It stems from the spirit of solidarity to enhance mutual learning for shared and sustainable growth,” Dr. Srinivasa said.
Additionally, he said governance is confronted with new complexities and challenges and, in the wake of the governance challenges, there is need to expand partnership choices in foreign cooperation and resolve to collaborate more closely to press ahead with the Sustainable Development Goals.

Thus, he said, in its own modest way, India has also tried to step-up the material resources and enabling mechanisms, especially in the past decade, in sharing of the country’s development experience with the rest of the world.
“Setting up of the Development Partnership Administration Division as a dedicated agency within our Ministry of External Affairs and enhancement of budget allocations for partner countries, increase in the size of the Foreign Service, including hiring of subject matter experts, increasing number of scholarships etc. are some of the recent measures taken by the Government of India in this regard,” the envoy added.