Agenda Item No. 2 Technical Cooperation: the Agency’s proposed program for 2021-2022
International Atomic Energy Agency
Board of Governors’ Meetings
(November 16-17, 2020)
Agenda Item No. 2
Technical Cooperation: the Agency’s proposed program for 2021-2022
Statement by the Governor for India
Ambassador Jaideep Mazumdar
Madam Chairperson,
We associate ourselves with the statement delivered by the distinguished Ambassador of the Philippines on behalf of G-77 and China and would like to make the following 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 the 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 calls 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,
The Agency’s mandate and India’s objectives and capabilities in the peaceful use of nuclear technology mesh very well together. We too attach high priority in addressing the needs and aspirations of developing countries.
India has developed considerable expertise in non-power applications of nuclear science and technology. These encompass radiation technologies and their applications for better crop varieties, crop protection, post-harvest technologies, radio-diagnosis and radiotherapy of diseases – in particular cancer, technologies for safe drinking water, radiation-based waste treatment and environmental monitoring.
Research institutes in India actively participate in IAEA CRPs to further strengthen the Agency’s efforts in R&D activities in the peaceful application of nuclear technology.
Under the MoU on Technical Cooperation between the Agency and India for imparting training to scientists from other developing countries who are IAEA Member States, India has trained a large number of scientists in different fields of application of nuclear science and technology.
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 scientific research is one of the most significant peaceful applications of nuclear sciences, next only to nuclear power production. India remains ready to share her experience in radiation technologies in diverse fields of national development be it in nuclear medicine and healthcare or towards advanced technologies with industrial uses or radio analytical services 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 GOV/2020/44.
I, Thank You, Madam Chair
