Agenda Item No. 2 Technical Cooperation: the Agency’s proposed program for 2020-2021
International Atomic Energy Agency
Board of Governors’ Meetings
(November 18, 2019)
Agenda Item No. 2
Technical Cooperation: the Agency’s proposed program for 2020-2021
Statement by the Governor for India
Ambassador Renu Pall
Madam Chairperson,
We associate ourselves with the statement delivered by the distinguished Ambassador of Egypt on behalf of G-77 and China Statement and would like to make few additional remarks in our national capacity.
Madam Chairperson,
India believes that Technical Cooperation is central to the mandate of the IAEA in promoting the “contribution of atomic energy to peace, health and prosperity throughout the world”. For this core statutory function to be performed effectively, it is important that the resources available for TC are sufficient, assured and predictable and are directed towards bringing tangible benefits to Member States in a most efficient and effective manner.
Mindful of the fact that TC programme is a shared responsibility, it is crucial that Member States fulfil their individual responsibilities and contribute in full and on time to the Technical Cooperation Fund. India continues to fulfil its obligations and call upon all member states to pay their assessed contribution in full and on time.
We also request the Agency to continue to explore and expand ways and means to render resources for the Technical Cooperation Programme to be sufficient, assured and predictable.
Madam Chairperson,
India has expertise in non-power applications of nuclear science and technology encompassing development of radiation technologies and their applications for better crop varieties, techniques for crops protection, radiation based post-harvest technologies, techniques for radio-diagnosis and radiotherapy of diseases particularly cancer, technologies for safe drinking water, better environment and industrial growth.
There exists a good synergy in the mandate of the Agency and Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), the nodal ministry of the Government of India. India’s vision on peaceful uses of Nuclear Energy is in consonance with that of the IAEA.
India accords high priority to addressing the immediate needs and aspirations of developing countries and views Technical Cooperation as an integral aspect of the Agency’s mandate.
Research institutes in India actively participate in IAEA CRPs to further strengthen the Agency’s effort in the R&D activities in peaceful applications of Atomic Energy.
Under the Technical Cooperation MoU between the Agency and India for imparting Training to scientists from other developing IAEA member States, India has trained a large number of scientists in different fields of application of nuclear science and technology for societal benefits.
India has also hosted several IAEA Workshops, Technical Meetings etc., and offered the services of its experts under the IAEA Technical Cooperation programme in a number of fields. Indian scientists are members of various IAEA Advisory Committees.
Madam Chairperson,
The application of radioisotopes in healthcare, industry, agriculture and research is one of the most significant peaceful applications of nuclear sciences, next to nuclear power production. India has made huge progress in utilisation of radiation technologies for societal uses and national development in all areas of nuclear technologies be it in the fields of nuclear medicine, healthcare or towards advanced technologies such as engineering and radiation technology equipments for medical as well as industrial uses, radiation processing services, isotope applications or radio analytical services. We are willing to share our knowledge and expertise with our friendly partners and are determined to take this collaboration to a higher level.
Madam Chairperson,
With these comments, our delegation endorses the recommended actions contained in the document before us.
I, Thank You, Madam Chair
