Aimed at expanding e-network across Central Asia, India today decided to set up a centre of excellence in Tajikistan with a super computer to promote IT enabled services.
India also proposed to set up an enterprise development centre in Tajikistan for skill development and create more job opportunities for the youths in the resource-rich country.
“I am happy to announce that the Government of India has decided to collaborate with the Tajik Technical University to create a centre of IT excellence with a super computer.”
“I have no doubt that this centre will become the seed for developing IT expertise among young people in Tajikistan,” Vice President Hamid Ansari said here today.
Inaugurating India-Tajikistan modern engineering workshop in Tajik Technical University here, Ansari said the proposed centre will also become one of the focal points of a pan central Asia e-network project that India hopes to implement soon.
“The e-network will enable tele-education to be delivered from India, as also tele-medicine,” the Vice President said adding that India is committed to cooperating with Tajikistan in all spheres, particularly, in human resource development.
Ansari, who is on a four-day visit to Tajikistan which ended today, appreciated the workshop aimed at skill development of students and faculty in this country saying “this capacity building is bound to play a big role in the path to development of Tajikistan”.
Ansari said India is fully committed to cooperating with brotherly Tajikistan in the welfare and development of both our peoples.
In February, the Tajik Technical University signed an agreement of cooperation with our premier technology institute, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi.
“This will facilitate further academic exchange and promote joint research and project work between both the institutes of excellence.
The two countries discussed regional security issues especially with regard to Afghanistan.
“We have a common interest in checking cross-border terrorism. They also have cross-border terrorism, we also have cross-border terrorism,” the Vice President said adding both the countries were sharing counter-terror information regularly.
Ansari is the first Vice President to have visited Tajikistan. Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had visited Tajikistan in 2003. Former President Pratibha Patil had paid a visit to the central Asian nation in September 2009.
Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon has been a frequent visitor to India. He has visited India five times — 1995, 1999, 2001, 2006 and in September 2012.
During Tajik President’s last visit to India, both the countries had elevated their bilateral relationship to the level of strategic partnership.
PTI