INDIA. Mumbai: The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) concluded the International Maritime Organization (IMO) I and II Training on Marine Oil Pollution Response and Cooperation for 21 Defence Officers and personnel below officer rank (PBOR) from seven friendly foreign countries (FFC) on Friday.
The participants included officers from Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Vietnam, the Maldives, Malaysia, Nigeria, and Mozambique, who attended the program under the aegis of the Indian Technical Economic Cooperation (ITEC). The training was held at the ICG’s Pollution Response Cell from February 13 to February 24.
The training was imparted by the ICG faculty with IMO-I, II, and III expertise and operational experience in pollution response management both at sea and onshore. The training at ICG is expected to assist the friendly nations in augmenting their PR capabilities and response in their countries.
21 trainees passed out in the valedictory ceremony of IMO-I and II held at CGRHQ (West) in Mumbai with DIG Kailash Negi, Chief of Staff, CGRHQ (West), as the Chief Guest.
The ITEC is a bilateral assistance program run by the Government of India that was established in 1964. It is a demand-driven and response-oriented program that focuses on meeting the needs of developing countries through cooperation between India and the partnering country in innovative technological areas.
Along with its corollary, the Special Commonwealth Assistance for Africa Program, ITEC covers 158 countries across Asia, Africa, Latin America, Central and Eastern Europe, and many Pacific and Caribbean nations. Since its inception, the program has spent over $2 billion and benefited thousands of students and professionals worldwide, with annual expenditure on the program averaging US$ 100 million in recent years.
In the last few years, there has been a growing awareness of the competence of India as a provider of technical know-how and expertise, as well as training opportunities, consulting services, and feasibility studies.
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