Excelsior Correspondent
WINDHOEK (NAMIBIA), June 18: India will set up Center for Excellence in Information Technology (IT) in Namibia and provide the requisite financial as well as academic assistance for it.
An announcement to this effect was made when President Pranab Mukherjee, accompanied by Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh and other members of the Indian delegation, paid a formal visit to the Namibia University of Science & Technology (NUST) here and addressed the faculty and students. The Namibian Minister for Higher Education Dr Itah Kandjii-Murangi disclosed that an MoU to this effect had been signed by the two countries. Vice-Chancellor Prof. Ejama Tgivikua was also present on the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion, President Pranab Mukherjee said that the Center for Excellence in IT will be set up as soon as possible, in consultation with the concerned authorities of the two governments. He further disclosed that 50,000 scholarships for African students had already been declared by Government of India for the next five years.
President Pranab Mukherjee said that some of the Government of India’s current flagship programmes like “Make in India”, “Digital India” etc have proved to be highly successful in India and they could even be successful in Namibia and other African countries. He invited Namibian researchers to come to India and make best use of the opportunities available.
Mukherjee said that India’s current focus is on quality education in institutions of higher learning and that India is on the path of technical revolution.
Referring to India’s achievements in the field of Space Technology, the President made a special mention of the Mars Mission “Mangalyan” which is totally indigenous and highly economical. While congratulating the NUST for rolling out the first “Solar Taxi”, he invited the scientific scholars from the University to come and benefit from the experience of the Indian scientific community.
President Pranab Mukherjee emphasized that his visit to Namibia underscores the high importance that India attaches to this country. He said, the new India is an emerging India and future lies in making the best use of the scientific expertise available. To that extent, he said, the African countries would find it highly rewarding to work in closer coordination with their counterparts in India.
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