Question : INDO-NAMIBIA TIES



(a) whether India and Namibia have signed an accord for enhanced technological cooperation in small scale industry and other fields;

(b) if so, the details thereof; and

(c) the extent to which India has agreed to help Namibia in these fields?

Answer given by the minister


MINISTER OF STATE FOR SMALL SCALE INDUSTRIES AND DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH-EASTERN REGION ( SHRI TAPAN SIKDAR )

(a) to (c): Yes, Sir. Government of India and Government of Namibia had entered into an agreement for setting up the Plastic Technology Demonstration and Common Facility Centre at Ondangwa, Namibia under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Programme of the Government of India in August 1998. The Agreement envisaged the setting up of a Plastic Technology Demonstration and common Facility Centre at Ondangwa, Namibia, called the India Namibia Plastic Technology Centre (INPTC). INPTC was set up on a turnkey basis by the National Small Industries Corporation Ltd (NSIC), New Delhi on behalf of the Government of India at a cost of Rs. 339.51 lakhs. The funds for the project were provided by the Ministry of External Affairs under the ITEC programme and was completed in June, 2001. Various technologies like blow moulding, injection moulding, thermoforming, plastic recycling, etc have been supplied under plastic technology. Besides, common facility services like grinding machines, milling machines, precision lathe, heat treatment plant, drilling machine etc have also been supplied to the Centre. The basic aim of setting up the centre was to provide facilities for demonstration of various projects so as to develop an entrepreneurial culture. The Common Facility Centre is equipped to provide facilities for performing job work and also has a mini tool room to manufacture dies and moulds for the plastic projects.