Overview
- External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met Côte d’Ivoire leaders on Thursday and pledged stepped-up defence and anti‑terror cooperation focused on training, capacity building and institutional exchanges.
- India committed 123 ITEC defence slots and 100 civilian slots for Côte d’Ivoire and noted about 800 ITEC participants from the country over the past 12 years, showing a clear increase in targeted training support.
- Jaishankar urged the ITEC alumni network to become a standing platform for continuous engagement so returned trainees can sustain ties, advise on programme design and translate skills into institutional change.
- Discussions in Abidjan also covered trade, investment, infrastructure, agriculture and healthcare, with Jaishankar saying India will align its support to the priorities set by Côte d’Ivoire under the Kampala principles.
- The announcements build on ITEC’s 62‑year history as India’s main capacity‑building tool and could strengthen Côte d’Ivoire’s human resources for governance and security while deepening bilateral economic links.