**Summary:**
The Indian government has recently reviewed its development assistance and capacity-building initiatives in African partner countries under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) and Lines of Credit (LOC) programs. India has provided over USD 12 billion in LOCs through a lending bank to over 40 African partner countries, resulting in the completion of more than 200 projects aimed at enhancing social and economic infrastructure.
In West Africa, including Ghana, approximately 1260 ITEC slots are offered annually, with over 6200 professionals from the region having been trained under the ITEC program. These training programs are conducted at various institutes across India, including the eastern region, selected based on their expertise to meet the specific training needs of partner countries. The Ministry is also exploring mapping higher education, skills, and traditional knowledge institutions in Eastern India, including Odisha, to potentially partner in delivering India's Africa-focused development training. Integration of institutions from Odisha into new India-Africa initiatives, particularly in cultural diplomacy and human resource development, is under consideration.
Key Entities Referenced
Smt. Sangeeta Kumari Singh Deo: Member of Lok Sabha who asked the question about India-Africa development cooperation.
Minister of External Affairs: The Government of India minister responsible for India's foreign policy and international relations.
India-Africa Development Cooperation: A program focusing on India's initiatives to support development in African countries.
Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC): A program under which India provides development assistance and capacity-building initiatives to partner countries.
Lines of Credit: Financial assistance extended by the Government of India through lending banks to partner countries for development projects.
Ghana: A West African nation specifically mentioned as a recipient of India's development assistance.
West African nations: The collective of countries in West Africa that benefit from India's ITEC program.
Odisha: A state in Eastern India that could partner in delivering India’s Africa-focused development training
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 1015
ANSWERED ON - 25/07/2025
INDIA-AFRICA DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION
1015. SMT. SANGEETA KUMARI SINGH DEO
Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has undertaken any recent review of India’s
development assistance and capacity-building initiatives in African
partner countries under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation
(ITEC) and Lines of Credit programmes;
(b) if so, the extent to which these programmes have been implemented
in Ghana and other West African nations during the last three years;
(c) whether the Ministry has mapped higher education, skills or
traditional knowledge institutions in Eastern India, including Odisha, that
could partner in delivering India’s Africa-focused development training, if
so, the details thereof; and
(d) whether the Ministry proposes to integrate institutions from Odisha
into new India–Africa initiatives announced during recent high-level
1visits, particularly in the areas of cultural diplomacy and human
resource development, if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) to (d): India’s development partnership is based on a consultative
model and is focused on addressing the priorities and needs of the
partner countries. India has been sharing its development experiences,
resources, expertise and skill-sets with Africa and other partner
countries in the Global South over the years.
Government of India has extended more than 190 Lines of Credit through
a lending bank aggregating around USD 12 billion to over 40 partner
countries in Africa. So far, more than 200 projects have been completed,
which have helped create a multiplier effect on the social and economic
infrastructure in partner African countries. This has enabled them to
move ahead on their own development trajectory.
2Government has made efforts to fast-track project delivery, as well as
respond to the developmental training needs of African countries. In all,
India has offered close to 1260 slots each year under the Indian
Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) to West African
countries, including Ghana. So far, more than 6200 professionals from
West African countries have been trained under the ITEC programme.
The ITEC training programmes are conducted at
various institutes spread all across India, including the eastern region.
These training institutes are selected based on their area of expertise to
suit the training requirements of partner countries.
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