MONROVIA, Liberia — The Government of India has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening Liberia’s human resource and institutional capacity, announcing 140 fully funded training opportunities for Liberian professionals under its Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Programme for the 2026–27 financial year.
By Patience M. Jones,[email protected]
The announcement was made during the celebration of ITEC Day in Monrovia on October 28, 2026, where Indian Ambassador to Liberia, H.E. Manoj Bihari Verma, disclosed that approximately 600 Liberian professionals have benefited from the programme over the years.
The event brought together senior Liberian government officials, ITEC and Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) alumni, representatives of partner institutions, and other distinguished guests to celebrate more than six decades of India’s international capacity-building initiative.
Ambassador Verma explained that Liberia’s demand for the programme has continued to grow, noting that the country’s initial allocation of 70 training slots for the 2025–26 financial year was fully utilized within the first six months.
According to him, the strong demand prompted the Indian Government to provide an additional 86 slots, bringing Liberia’s total utilization to 156 training opportunities during the period.
For the current 2026–27 financial year, Liberia has been allocated another 140 training slots, with participation already progressing well.
The ITEC Programme, established by the Government of India in 1964, is marking its 62nd anniversary in 2026. It provides fully funded professional training opportunities to participants from partner countries across various fields, allowing them to acquire new skills and benefit from India’s institutional expertise and development experience.
“ITEC is an important pillar of India’s foreign policy and a flagship initiative of our development partnership,” Ambassador Verma noted.
He disclosed that the programme currently offers nearly 10,000 fully funded training opportunities annually and has benefited more than 225,000 professionals from over 160 countries.
The Ambassador emphasized that the initiative is built on mutual learning and cooperation, explaining that participants from partner countries also contribute their knowledge, experiences, and perspectives to Indian institutions during their training.
India Extends Support Beyond Professional Training
Beyond professional capacity-building, the Indian Government is also supporting Liberian students through scholarship opportunities, including the ICCR India-Africa Friendship Scholarship Scheme.
Ambassador Verma disclosed that 24 Liberian students have been awarded ICCR scholarships this year, including 20 scholarships for master’s and doctoral studies at prestigious Indian institutions, among them the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs).
He also highlighted recent specialized training programmes provided to Liberian professionals, including occupational health and safety training for mining officers and nursing leadership and management programmes for nurses.
Other beneficiaries have included personnel from the Liberia National Police, Liberia Immigration Service, Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency, Liberia Revenue Authority, Monrovia City Corporation, Liberia Petroleum Refining Company, and various government ministries.
Ambassador Verma encouraged former participants to maintain their relationships with India, their fellow trainees, and the institutions where they received professional training.
He described ITEC alumni as ambassadors of goodwill and living bridges of friendship between India and Liberia, stressing that their professional contributions and personal relationships remain important to strengthening bilateral relations.
Liberia Calls for Alumni to Apply Skills at Home
Deputy Minister for Legal Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Cllr. Jeddi Mowbray Armah, who served as Chief Guest, underscored the importance of South-South Cooperation and commended the Government of India for its sustained investment in Liberia’s human resource development.
He said India’s capacity-building initiatives provide an important opportunity for Liberian professionals to acquire knowledge and skills that can contribute to national development.
The Deputy Minister challenged ITEC alumni to translate the knowledge and professional experiences gained in India into practical contributions within their respective institutions and communities.
He also proposed documenting the achievements of Liberian ITEC alumni, including their current professional positions and how they are applying the skills acquired through the programme.
According to him, documenting these achievements would help demonstrate the programme’s impact on Liberia’s institutional development while highlighting the contributions of beneficiaries to national progress.
He further described alumni as an important link between the two countries, noting that their professional contributions can strengthen the spirit of friendship and cooperation between Liberia and India.
Deputy Minister Armah concluded by expressing appreciation to the Government of India for its continued partnership and commitment to strengthening Liberia’s human resource and institutional capacity.
Alumni Highlight Benefits of India Training
Representatives of partner institutions, including the Liberia National Fire Service, Monrovia City Corporation, Liberia Petroleum Refining Company, and the Agricultural and Industrial Training Bureau, also addressed the gathering.
Selected ITEC alumni shared their experiences of training in India, highlighting the professional knowledge they acquired, their exposure to Indian institutions and practices, and the relationships developed during their respective programmes.
Acting President of the ITEC Alumni Association in Liberia, Alaskai Johnson, also emphasized the importance of maintaining an active alumni network to strengthen professional relationships and sustain engagement among former participants.
He noted that the association provides an important platform for preserving the connections established through the programme and promoting continued cooperation between Liberia and India.
The celebration highlighted the growing role of India’s development partnership in supporting Liberia’s professional workforce through specialized training, higher education scholarships, and institutional cooperation.
With 140 training opportunities available for the 2026–27 financial year, the programme continues to offer Liberian professionals and public-sector institutions an avenue to strengthen their technical knowledge, professional skills, and contributions to national development.
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