Monrovia — A total of 30 Liberian mining professionals, including mining officers, geologists and engineers have departed for India to participate in a specialized training programme on Occupational Health, Safety and Inspection for Mining and Exploration under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Programme of the Government of India.
By Patience M. Jones
The delegation was officially hosted at the Embassy of India in Monrovia for a send-off and orientation ceremony, which was attended by the Assistant Minister for Planning at the Ministry of Mines and Energy, Emmanuel Vaye along with officials of the Indian Mission.
The ITEC Programme, established in 1964, is one of India’s flagship international capacity-building initiatives. Over the years, it has trained more than 225,000 professionals from over 160 countries, including more than 500 Liberians, across various sectors such as mining, healthcare, law enforcement, education and public administration.
Speaking during the ceremony, the Ambassador of India to Liberia, Manoj Bihari Verma, underscored the strong and growing partnership between India and Liberia.
He reaffirmed India’s continued support to Liberia’s human resource development efforts, particularly in critical sectors like mining and natural resource management.
The training will be conducted at the Indian Institute of Coal Management (IICM) in Ranchi, Jharkhand State. IICM, a premier institution under Coal India Limited, is India’s apex training center for mining professionals and is widely recognized for its modern facilities, experienced faculty, and hands-on training approach.
Participants will undergo both classroom instruction and practical field visits, including tours of underground and opencast coal mines. As part of the programme, the Liberian delegation will also visit the Indian Institute of Technology – Indian School of Mines (IIT-ISM), Dhanbad, one of India’s oldest and most prestigious mining engineering institutions, established in 1926.
The initiative aims to enhance Liberia’s capacity in occupational health standards, mine safety management, inspection techniques, and modern mining practices. Upon completion, participants are expected to apply the knowledge and skills acquired to improve safety compliance and operational efficiency within Liberia’s mining sector.
Emmanuel Vaye expressed gratitude to the Government of India for the opportunity and emphasized the importance of continuous professional development in strengthening Liberia’s regulatory frameworks and natural resource governance.
Beyond technical training, the programme also includes cultural and recreational activities.
Participants will visit Bodh Gaya, a renowned historical and spiritual site where Lord Buddha attained enlightenment under the Bodhi Tree. Home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site Mahabodhi Temple, Bodh Gaya offers a unique opportunity to experience India’s cultural heritage and spiritual significance.
The Government of Liberia (GoL)and the Indian Mission continue to collaborate closely under the ITEC framework to promote skills development and technical cooperation. India currently offers 70 ITEC training slots annually to Liberian professionals, a number that has been increased to 120 for the current financial year.
In recent years, Liberia has also benefited from other capacity-building initiatives, including the successful training of 27 Liberian nurses in Nursing Leadership and Management at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) in Chandigarh.
Additionally, ten Liberian students have been admitted this year into prestigious Indian Institutes of Technology—such as IIT Madras, IIT Delhi, IIT Bombay, and IIT Roorkee—for master’s degree programmes under Government of India-supported scholarships, alongside five others enrolled in other premier institutions.
This latest training programme further reflects the deepening bilateral relationship between Liberia and India, particularly in the areas of education, capacity building, and technical exchange.
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