Agenda Item 3: Strengthening of the Agency’s technical cooperation activities Technical Cooperation Report for 2019
International Atomic Energy Agency
Board of Governors’ Meetings (June 15, 2020)
Agenda Item 3: Strengthening of the Agency’s technical cooperation activities Technical Cooperation Report for 2019
Statement by Sh. Subhash P. Gupta, Counsellor and Cd’A a.i.
Madam Chair,
We associate ourselves with the statement delivered by the distinguished Ambassador of Malaysia on behalf of G-77 and China, and would like to add the following additional remarks in our national capacity.
Madam Chair,
India believes that the Technical Cooperation Programme 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 successful, it is important that the Technical Cooperation Programme is adequately resourced. In this context, the rate of attainment of TCF target in 2019 at 94% is a welcome development. We would like to emphasize that the TC programme is a shared responsibility, and therefore exhort all Member States to fulfil their individual responsibility and contribute to the Technical Cooperation Fund on time and in full to assure its required funding. India consistently pays its contribution in full and on time, and participates as a donor, and also provides considerable technical expertise and support to many projects of the IAEA’s TC Programme.
Madam Chair,
India’s programmes for non-power applications of nuclear technology are comprehensive and cover production of radioisotopes, development of radiation technology and their applications in areas of healthcare, agriculture, food preservation, industry and research. These make a significant contribution in India’s developmental aspirations. India continues to provide experts, lecturers and infrastructure for training fellows to help the Agency disseminate Nuclear Techniques and Technology in developing world.
Madam Chair,
We note with satisfaction the efforts under the Programme of Action for Cancer Therapy (PACT) to support cancer control related efforts in Member States. The Agency’s successes in supporting Member States in addressing their cancer control priorities and needs, through partnerships, outreach and resource mobilization are well recognised. India continues to support the Agency in the fight against cancer, which is a global challenge. India has donated the indegenous Bhabhatron radiotherapy machine to several countries viz Vietnam, Mongolia, Tanzania, Kyrgyzstan, Kenya, Madagascar, and most recently to Uganda which was delivered in February 2020. India has a well-functioning National Cancer Grid (NCG) of more than 100 cancer care centres, staffed with top specialists. India launched NCG Vishwam Cancer Care Connect at a side event on 17 september 2019 during the 63rd General Conference of IAEA. With this, the NCG is open to cancer hospitals and other relevant institutes from foreign countries. Eleven countries expressed interest in joining the Grid immediately after launch. The objective is to remove disparity in cancer care and enable countries in accessing the expertise available in India. In addition, on a bilateral level, India has been supporting many countries in the region and beyond in their fight against cancer.
Thank You.
