The Indian government has increased the number of training opportunities offered to Maldivian civil servants under the Indian Technical and Economic Corporation (ITEC) training programme. The Indian High Commission in Maldives acknowledged the remarkable success of the 2023 programme, which prompted the decision to expand the available slots from 200 to 300 for this year.
The ITEC training programmes, fully funded by the Indian government, are aimed at improving the capabilities of civil servants in neighbouring countries. The Maldives was initially the beneficiary of 50 such opportunities under the programme.
The allocation of slots for the Maldives saw a significant increase to 200 in 2019, a development that coincided with a visit to India by then-President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. Under the Mohamed Muizzu administration, dialogues with the Indian government have culminated in a further expansion of the programme, elevating the total number of slots for the Maldives to 300. Since 2019, the Indian government has helped train 3,200 Maldivian civil servants.
Established in 1964, the ITEC programme stands as one of India’s most enduring and established frameworks for international capacity development. Over the years, it has facilitated the training of over 200,000 officials from more than 160 countries, spanning both civilian and defence sectors.