SANA'A* Nov. 16 ? Up to 550 Yemenis have benefited from the training opportunities provided by the government of India through the Indian Technical and Economical Cooperation Program popularly known as "ITEC". An open day for the program was organized by the Indian embassy in Sana'a at the embassy's premises last Wednesday. Yemeni students and government employees given a scholarship or a training course in the field of their work in India were invited to the event to share their experiences. India spends RS 500 million annually on the ITEC activities. Since 1964* it has provided over USD 2 million worth of technical assistance to developing countries. The government of India has been offering mid-career training courses to officials of the various ministries of the government of Yemen* academies and other organizations in a wide variety of subjects under the (ITEC) Program."ITEC is about cooperation and partnership for mutual benefits. It is response-oriented and it addresses the needs of developing countries*" said Indian ambassador R.M. Aggarwal."India is not a rich country and cannot offer grants-in-aid to match those of the developed countries. It does* however* possess skills of manpower and technology more appropriate to the geographical and ecological conditions and the stage of technological development of several developing countries*" he added.At present* 50 trainee boys and girls from the Republic of Yemen are sent to India every year* under the sponsorship of the government of India* to participate in one of the over 200 training programs offered by about 40 ITEC training institutions* in various parts of India* as part of the Indo-Yemen bilateral cooperation. According to the embassy* courses in big demand for Yemenis are Spoken English* IT* Journalism* Networking Design* Web Design* Oil and Gas Flow Measurement* Management of Bio-Medical Equipment and Food Processing.Before 2005 Yemen received only 50 training grants every year through the ITEC program* the number has risen to 50 because of the increasing demand for such training.Yet* the number of slots was described as "unconvincing" compared to the capability of India by Hesham Sharaf* Yemeni deputy minister of Planning and International Cooperation. "We look at the Indian government as a trade and investment partner and a partner in qualifying our staff as well*" he said. There is an obvious demand to increase the number of grants for Yemen* and the popularity of the training courses is reflected in the feedback of Yemenis who have had the opportunity to take part in them."I have attended courses in Poland and Sweden* but the course of India was distinguished*" said Fuad Al-Sabri* who was sent to India by the public telecommunication corporation to attend a training course in Financial Telecom. He commented that Indians used more sophisticated technology and trainees get close exposure to all that is new in the field of telecommunication. "It is unfair that India is considered to be one of the developing countries*" said Fuad. Nabil Al-Musawa* a trainee* said that the three-month course he took in India changed his life in general and improved his career. "I came back a new person. Beside the professional skills* I learnt how to be practical and active* and all have enhanced my job performance*" he said....

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