How is India Celebrating the 62nd ITEC Day in Myanmar?

Naypyidaw, Sep 20 (NationPress) The 62nd Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Programme Day was commemorated in Myanmar's Naypyidaw, with numerous members of the diaspora and officials present.

India's premier capacity-building initiative attracted over 250 attendees, including beneficiaries of the ITEC programme from Myanmar, alumni of both civilian and defense ITEC courses, senior officials, and members of the Indian community in the region.

The event, hosted by Indian Ambassador to Myanmar Abhay Thakur, featured Myanmar's Prime Minister U Nyo as the Chief Guest, who was joined by Minister of Foreign Affairs U Than Swe, Minister for Investment and Foreign Economic Relations Wah Wah Maung, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs U Ko Ko Kyaw, and Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs U Naing Min Kyaw, along with senior representatives from various ministries and institutions.

The Indian Embassy reported that the ITEC programme was launched in Myanmar in 1996 with an initial allocation of 30 slots.

This figure has progressively increased to nearly 700 slots yearly, of which around 500 are actively utilized. Since 2014, over 4,500 professionals from Myanmar have engaged in short-term specialized training courses under the ITEC framework.

Popular courses include Proficiency in English Language, Leadership for 21st Century Professionals, Public Policy and Administration, Budgeting, Accounting and Financial Management, and Data Analytics.

A statement from the Indian Embassy emphasized that Development Cooperation aimed at benefiting the people of Myanmar, guided by their needs and priorities, has long been a hallmark of India-Myanmar bilateral relations. This cooperation spans connectivity and infrastructure projects as well as initiatives focused on establishing sustainable institutions for capacity building and human resource development in select sectors.

The statement also underscored India's crucial ongoing projects, such as the Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport Project (KMTTP) and the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway.

In addition, a variety of community-focused initiatives are being executed under frameworks like the India-Myanmar Border Area Development Programme, Rakhine State Development Programme, High Impact Community Development Projects (HICDPs), and Quick Impact Projects (QIPs).

To demonstrate the Government of India's unwavering commitment to preserving Myanmar's rich religious heritage and to reinforce the long-standing cultural and spiritual ties between India and Myanmar, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is engaged in the conservation and restoration of 72 pagodas affected by earthquakes in Bagan over a 10-year period, divided into three phases, as noted by the Indian Embassy.

Phase I of this initiative was completed in December 2024, resulting in the restoration of 11 pagodas (22 works) that were handed over to Myanmar, witnessed by Ambassador Abhay Thakur and Myanmar's Union Minister of Religious Affairs and Culture U Tin Oo Lwin, in the ancient city of Bagan.

A team from ASI tasked with executing Phase II of the conservation efforts, which will include structural preservation, chemical restoration, and the conservation of approximately 50 earthquake-affected pagodas, began their work in September 2025.

The Indian Embassy reiterated India's ongoing commitment to address the socio-economic needs of the people in Myanmar across various states and sectors in the coming years.