India, UN Office for Disarmament Affairs to host second UNSC 1540 capacity building programme in Palasamudram
New Delhi, February 10
India, in partnership with the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs, is organising the second edition of the annual Capacity Building Programme on the UN Security Council Resolution 1540 and Strategic Trade Controls for Asia-Pacific and African countries at the National Academy of Customs, Indirect Taxes and Narcotics, Palasamudram, from February 10 to 13, the Ministry of External Affairs stated in an official release.
The programme is being organised under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) framework.
As stated in the release, 23 government experts from nine countries, Brunei Darussalam, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Mauritius, Mongolia, Namibia, Nigeria, Tanzania, and Vietnam, are participating in the programme.
Speakers and experts from UNODA, India's Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs, the National Authority Chemical Weapons Convention, the Department of Biotechnology, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, the Disarmament and International Security Affairs Division of the Ministry of External Affairs, and Indian industry will share their implementation experiences and best practices on relevant aspects of UNSC Resolution 1540 and Strategic Trade Controls, the release added.
This annual flagship ITEC programme is a reaffirmation of India's robust credentials on non-proliferation, and a further demonstration of India's contribution to the global non-proliferation architecture.
Building on these ongoing efforts, the current programme follows earlier initiatives undertaken by India in this domain.
Last year, India, in partnership with the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA), organised the first-ever capacity building programme of its kind on the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540 and Strategic Trade Controls for Asia-Pacific states.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Good initiative, but I hope the focus is on practical, on-ground implementation. Sometimes these programmes become just talk shops. The participation from African and Central Asian nations is key though.
Palasamudram is in Andhra Pradesh, right? It's great to see such high-level international events being hosted outside the usual metros like Delhi or Mumbai. Develops infrastructure and puts smaller cities on the map.
As someone working in international trade, strategic trade controls are crucial. Having experts from DGFT and CBIC share India's experience will be invaluable for the participating countries. A solid step towards safer global trade.
This is what responsible global power looks like. We are not just talking about non-proliferation; we are actively building capacity in other nations. It strengthens our diplomatic ties across Asia and Africa. Well done MEA!
While the intent is good, I hope the outcomes are measurable. How many of last year's participants have successfully implemented changes? Sharing best practices is one thing, ensuring they are adopted is another. The programme needs clear follow-up mechanisms.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.