Programmes and Projects in India

Concluded Projects

Support to the urban refugee program in India (NEW DELHI) Type Ordinary Channel Multilateral Managed By International Organizations Sector Health Total Budget 400.000 Euro Local Budget Financing Voluntary Contribution Starting Date/Duration 2002; 2 years Executing Agency UNHCR (United Nations High Commissions for Refugees) Counterpart Ministry of External Affairs Status Concluded In 2002 and 2003, the Italian Government allocated two voluntary contributions for programs carried out in India by United Nations High Commission for Refugees. These funds have been used to carry out reallocation, voluntary repatriation and integration at local level. Specially, the local UNHCR office has supported numerous initiatives implemented by local NGOs who provide medical assistance to refugees and carry out educational and training activities. Moreover, various information and awareness campaigns on the problems of refugees have been promoted with Italian funds.

“Community-wide Demand Reduction in India” and “Community-wide Demand Reduction in the North Eastern States of India Type Ordinary Channel Multilateral Managed By International Organizations Sector Social Total Budget US$ 400,000 Local Budget Financing Grant Starting Date/Duration 1999; 4 years Executing Agency UNODC (United Nations Office for Drug and Crime) / ILO Counterpart Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment Status Concluded With regard to international struggle for prevention and reduction of use of drugs, during 2001 the Italian Government has allocated funds for a voluntary contribution (400,000 USD) to UNODC for two programs. “Community-Wide demand reduction in India” aims at creating a National Center for prevention of drugs misuse and 5 Regional Centers managed by NGOs. “Community-Wide demand reduction in the North-eastern states of India” concentrated its efforts in the North-Indian states where cases of misuse of drugs and of HIV-AIDS are very high. This was done by creating three Regional Centers (Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram), 25 centers for detoxification and rehabilitation and 40 community centers.

Scholarships for Technical Training and Specialization Type Ordinary Channel Bilateral Managed By Directly Sector Education Total Budget Local Budget Financing Grant Starting Date/Duration 2002 and 2003 Executing Agency DGCS Counterpart Ministry of Human Resources Status Not active In 2002, 5 scholarships were offered for specialization courses in the following sectors: physics, maritime, management of health systems, company management. In 2003, 3 scholarships were offered for specialization courses in the following sectors: naval cartography, company management, medical physics. No scholarships were offered in the following years.

High-Tech Vocational Training Centre (HTVTC) - Delhi Type Ordinary Channel Bilateral Managed By Directly Sector Education Total Budget 5.7 Milion Euro + 310.000 Euro Local Budget Financing Grant Starting Date/Duration 1989; project officially closed in 2001 Executing Agency DGCS Counterpart Department of Industry, Government of Delhi- Ministry of Industry, Government of India Status Concluded The High-Tech Vocational Training Center in Delhi was created during a three year program financed though donations of 5.77 million USD and the project ended in 1993 (the Memorandum of Understanding was signed in 1989). The center’s activities are in two areas: preparation of qualified technicians for small and medium scale industries and execution of specific works for outside companies. Since 1994, all the planned training courses were gradually started and in 1997 around 190 courses were held and 1,400 students participated. In 1996, the Indian Government requested an additional contribution of about 310,000 Euro to be used for supplying some replacement machines and for training specialized staff. The extension request was finalized in September 1997 as a part of the management program directed by the Italian Government. The supply and technical assistance contracts were all concluded in June 2000 and the technical-administrative closing of the project was done in March 2001.

Support to SMEs Type Ordinary Channel Bilateral and Multilateral Managed By Directly Sector Industrial Development Total Budget 25 Million Euro Local Budget Financing Soft Loan Starting Date/Duration 1998; the first part of the programme will end on March 31st 2005 Executing Agency D.G.C.S. Counterpart N.S.I.C. (National Small Industry Corporation of India) - Ministry of Small Scale Industries, Agro and Rural Industries Status Concluded During the bilateral meetings on cooperation held in June 1996, it was agreed to use 25 of the 50 million Euro from the aid fund, part of the Italian commitment towards cooperation activities in India, for financing a support program for development and modernization of small and medium scale industries in India. The Indian Government has nominated the National Small Industry Corporation (NSIC) as the executor of the project. The guidelines for executing the project have been finalized during a series of bilateral meetings in which experts from the Italian Development Cooperation, representatives of Mediocredit, UNIDO, ICE and Indian Ministries of Industries and of Finance participated. After the finalization of the Financial Agreement in October 2000, the credit flow became operational and covered the first tranche of the project of about 5 million Euro till March 2005. In view of the new guidelines by the Indian Government with regard to development aid which exclude tide-aid, the Indian Government did not make a request for the second tranche.

SME Cluster Development Programme in India Type Ordinary Channel Multilateral Managed By International Organizations Sector Industrial Development Total Budget 1 Milion US$ Local Budget Financing Grant Starting Date/Duration 2002; 3 years Executing Agency UNIDO Counterpart Ministry of Small Scale Industries, Agro Rural Industries Status Concluded The project promoted the development of industrial districts for small and medium scale enterprises. According to estimates, in India there are around 350 district of small and medium scale enterprises and 2000 rural districts working in handicraft sectors. In view of the enormous potential of this sector, its development became a part of the Indian Government’s policy and UNIDO is collaborating with this project since 1996. The project, started in 2002 and finished in 2005, provided assistance to seven industrial districts of which four were the Italian component: Jaipur, Ludhiana, Tirupur and Pune. Besides, technical support was provided to the Ministry of Small scale Industries, to three State Governments and to three national institutes working in the field of small and medium scale enterprises. The assistance included orientation programs, training and 'capacity building'. UNIDO also promoted creation of coordination committees at state level to ensure exchange of experience, of 'lessons learned' and 'best practices' between the counterparts. In order to improve spread of innovation and transfer of technology between SMEs at global level, an International Network for SMEs has been created based on an Italian proposal. The project finished in July 2005. The final project report and the financial report are still awaited from UNIDO.

Thermoelectric Power Station Farakka II Type Ordinary Channel Bilateral Managed By Enterprise Sector Energy Total Budget US$ 8,16 million (grant) + US$ 76 million (soft loan) Local Budget Financing Grant + Soft Loan Starting Date/Duration 1988 Executing Agency Ansaldo Counterpart N.T.P.C. (National Thermal Power Corporation) - Ministry of Power, GoI Status Concluded The aim of the project, approved in 1987 and started towards the end of 1988, was to supply two heaters of 500 MW capacity for the Farakka II plant. The funds were to be provided in the form of mixed credit: the donation part amounting to 8.16 million dollars covered the technical assistance costs and the supply was financed in the form of aid credit of 76 million dollars. In 1996, both the units started running commercially and in the same year guarantee tests were also conducted. In 1997 the activities which were part of the contract were completed and in 1998 Ansaldo’s presence was limited to two local engineers which provided assistance to the client. In July 2001 a group of experts from the Italian Government did an evaluation of activities carried out for a technical-administrative closing of the project.

Joint Venture- Lastra SpA. Type Ordinary Channel Bilateral Managed By Enterprise Sector Industry Total Budget 178.000 Euro Local Budget Financing Joint Venture Financing Scheme Starting Date/Duration 2000 Executing Agency Società Lastra Spa Counterpart Society Niraj Pvt Status Concluded In 2000, DGCS allowed subsidized finance to the company Lastra SpA for creating a joint venture in India for manufacturing aluminum sheets for off-set printing. The new company called 'Lastra Niraj PrivateLtd' is located in Nasik, in the state of Maharashtra. The company Lastra SpA holds a share capital of 51% in this joint venture (equal to 9,535,710 Indian rupees).

Joint Venture- Valle Brembana Type Ordinary Channel Bilateral Managed By Enterprise Sector Industry Total Budget 70.000.000 INR Local Budget Financing Joint Venture Financing Scheme Starting Date/Duration 2000 Executing Agency Società Manifattura di Valle Brembana Counterpart Morarjee Goculdas SPG Status Concluded In 2000, DGCS allowed subsidized finance to the company Manifattura di Valle Brembana to create a joint venture in India with a participation of 50% in its share capital (amounting to 400 million rupees) for production and commercialization of 4.6 million meters of fabrics for shirts for European and American markets. The new company called Morarjee-Brembana Ltd. is located in the industrial area of Butibori in the state of Maharastra. Joint Venture- Liberti SpA. Type Ordinary Channel Bilateral Managed By Enterprise Sector Industry Total Budget 318.000 US$ Local Budget Financing Joint Venture Financing Scheme Starting Date/Duration 2000 Executing Agency Società Liberti Spa. Counterpart Society Crystal Clothing Company Status Concluded In 2000, DGCS allowed subsidized finance to the company Liberti SpA to create a joint venture in India for the production of lingerie and women knitwear. The new company called Liberblu Enteprises Private Ltd. is located in Tiripur in the state of Tamil Nadu. The company Liberti SpA hold a share capital of 60% (amounting to 757,576 USD).

Indian Spinal Injuries Center - (ISIC) Type Ordinary Channel Bilateral Managed By NGO Sector Health Total Budget 7 Million Euro Local Budget Financing Grant Starting Date/Duration 1992; project officially closed in 2001 Executing Agency A.I.S.P.O. Milano (Italian NGO) Counterpart Indian Spinal Injuries Center (I.S.I.C.) Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment Status Concluded The objective of the program was to create a specialized center for treating spinal injuries. The center, realized in Delhi, is the only of its kind in the whole region and serves as a reference point for treatment of spinal injuries in the whole country. The works started in July 1992 with the arrival of first equipments from Italy. Towards the end of 1997, the Indian Government decided to allocate funds for completing the construction works and thus making it possible to meet expenses for hospitalization of about 30 patients. The hospital was officially inaugurated by Hon. Minister Dini in November 2000. In 2001, further works were carried out to improve the hospital and then the project was concluded. In March 2006, the Italian Government provided a contribution to ISIC for organizing an international conference ‘ISSICon’ titled “Dilemmas in Spinal Injury Management”. Strengthening Health Infrastrucures - Dharamsala (Himachal Pradesh) Type Ordinary Channel Bilateral Managed By NGO Sector Health Total Budget 550.000 Euro Local Budget Financing Grant Starting Date/Duration 1997; project officially closed in 2001 Executing Agency A.I.S.P.O. Milano (Italian NGO) Counterpart Dept. of Health of the Central Tibetan Administration of H.H. the Dalai Lama - Ministry of Health (Govt. Himachal Pradesh) Ministry of Health (Govt. India) Status Concluded The health project carried out in Dharamshala, where the most important Tibetan community in exile lives, led to creation of a small health center within the existing Delek Hospital for assisting infants. The project activities started in June 1997. The construction of the hospital started in 1999 and finished in October 2000. An official handing over ceremony of the building and the equipment to Tibetan authorities was organized. Projects, related to the one mentioned above, for helping the Tibetan community in Himachal Pradesh have also been completed. These projects included works for restoration of adduction systems of drinking water and renovation of dispensaries in 5 villages of the state. The project officially ended in 2001.

Integrated development project for women in the Chinassalem district Type Ordinary Channel Bilateral Managed By NGO Sector Gender Empowerment Total Budget US$ 758.488 Local Budget Financing Grant Starting Date/Duration 1996; project closed in 2002 Executing Agency Manitese (Italian NGO) Counterpart Association for Sarva Seva Farms (ASSEFA, Indian NGO) Status Concluded The aim of the project was emancipation of women from poverty and reducing their vulnerability by improving their economic and social conditions. During six years, the aim of the project was also to improve the quality of life of poor families in the area of Chinnasalem. To achieve these objectives the project carried out social and economic operations such as creating groups, formal and informal education, training, environmental safety, income generating activities in the field of agriculture and dairy farming and production and trade activities. The project officially ended in October 2002 by handing over of the final project report to the Ministry of External Affairs. A training cum production centre for educational audiovisual for information and development of rural population in East and North-East of India – Kolkata Type Ordinary Channel Bilateral Managed By NGO Sector Education/Social Total Budget 2 Million Euro Local Budget Financing Grant Starting Date/Duration 1999; project concluded in 2002 Executing Agency C.O.E. Milano (Italian NGO) Counterpart Dept. of Information & Cultural Affairs (Govt. of West Bengal), Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Status Concluded The aim of the program was to create a production center of audio-visual materials for education of rural population and of poor urban population. The Italian contribution was mainly towards training of personnel and transfer of suitable communication techniques. The agreement between the Italian Government and the NGO COE was signed in 1996; the construction of the center began in spring 1999; in the end of year 1999, the statute of the 'Autonomous Society', which manages the activities of the center, was approved after negotiations at various levels which included the Consulate General in Kolkata and the Italian Embassy in Delhi. The technical assistance activities were carried out in 2000 and 2001 by sending three experts mission in the field of training and production of animation films. The handing over ceremony of the Production Center, the Training Center and the administrative closing of the project were held in 2002. In 2006, the Italian Development Cooperation Office in Delhi sent a technical mission to evaluate the possibility of an extension.