Zim, India deepen bilateral relations through exchange programmes

ZIMBABWE and India continue to strengthen bilateral relations by deepening co-operation, particularly in education and skills development, with professionals from various sectors of the economy being trained in the Asian nation in various fields ranging from agriculture, health, education, energy and defence.

The professionals travel for training to the Asian nation under the Indian Technical and Economic Co-operation (Itec) programme.

Itec, which has been running since 1985 offers Zimbabwe 217 training slots annually in various fields, including agriculture, health, education, energy and defence.

Yesterday, Zimbabwe joined India at its Itec Day Celebrations at a local hotel in Bulawayo, an event that brought together Itec alumni, the Ambassador of India to Zimbabwe, Mr Bramha Kumar, staff from the Indian Embassy and beneficiaries to recognise the programme’s impact on capacity building and national development.

Amb Kumar said Itec is a flagship programme of the Indian Government’s technical co-operation effort with more than 150 countries including Zimbabwe.

“The Itec programme forms an important part of our bilateral relations with Zimbabwe since 1985. Presently, 217 slots are offered to Zimbabwe annually.

“After a drop during the Covid-19 pandemic, the numbers are increasing again.

“Out of 217 Itec slots allotted for this year, 149 seats were utilised so far and the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage utilised the highest number of slots, which stands at 28, followed by Ministry of Industry and Commerce, which took 13 slots,” said Amb Kumar.

“I am happy to mention that the total number of Itec slots utilised in the southern part of the country in the past four years stands at 75. This year, we are proud to note that 12 professionals from Plumtree, Bulawayo and Gwanda successfully attended Itec courses.

“The achievements of the Itec participants are a testament to the spirit of collaboration between India and Zimbabwe, a partnership rooted in mutual respect, learning and growth,” he added.

“The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) has announced 10 scholarships for Zimbabwe for various PhD and Post Graduate courses and all the slots have been taken up. The endeavour to partner with our fellow developing countries such as Zimbabwe is an important pillar of India’s foreign policy.”

He said India stands with Zimbabwe in providing modern technical training and skilling to local youths.

“It is estimated that around 5 000 students are already enrolled in various Indian colleges and universities,” said Amb Kumar.

One of the Itec alumni Mr Milton Ncube from Gweru, an agricultural business advisory officer in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, said he gained invaluable insights in a Transformation Agriculture for Smallholder Farmers through Efficient Marketing course that he attended earlier this year.

“The course that I attended facilitated through Itec equipped me with the knowledge to effectively utilise agricultural marketing models, value chain development, the use of digital platforms to market agricultural produce and farmer empowerment strategies.

“I also undertook enriching field visits in well-established farms, interacted with successful farmers and experts, as well as exchanged experiences with fellow participants from various countries,” he said.

“My stay in India wasn’t just about learning but also about building networks and exploring practical solutions for agricultural challenges in our local contexts,” said Mr Ncube.

“The skills and insights that I gained in India are already influencing my work as an agricultural business advisory officer. Itec is not just a training programme, it’s a bridge that connects nations through shared development goals.”

Mr Mphilisi Moyo, an educator based in Bulawayo, said the Itec programme opened his eyes and deepened his appreciation of the role that Artificial Intelligence can play in the educational sector.

“Some of the education institutions in India demonstrated AI-enabled dashboards that help school teachers identify learning gaps early, allocate resources more efficiently and predict future trends in enrolment and teacher deployment,” said Mr Moyo.

He said he saw first-hand AI being used to enhance teaching and learning methods, as well as learning platforms that adjust content according to each learner’s abilities, ensuring that no child is left behind.

“Beyond technology and planning, the programme exposed us to several key lessons on improving the education sector and implementing best practices that benefit both the learner and teacher.

“Many Indian institutions have continuous professional training programmes that equip teachers with modern skills, digital literacy and inclusive education techniques.”