• About Colombo Plan
  The Colombo Plan exemplifies the concept of a joint inter-governmental effort towards economic and social development in Asia-Pacific region. The primary objective of Colombo Plan is human resource development by providing a common platform for facilitating experience sharing amongst member countries. A very significant aspect of the plan is to provide assistance to the least developed countries.

• Technical Cooperation Scheme:
  Council for Technical Cooperation in South and South East Asia was established for facilitating the technical aid to the countries of the region from sources such as the United States and United Nations agency. The Government of India, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Pakistan decided to organise a scheme to provide technical assistance for countries in South and South East Asia on a cooperation basis commencing from 1950. This agreement subsequently became a major South-South initiative in 1960's. In keeping with the objective of Colombo Plan the Government of India started the Technical Cooperation Scheme (TCS), which is looked after by the Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance.
  
  Through this Scheme, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Government of India provides comprehensive and integrated training to participants from member countries of Colombo Plan with the purpose of assisting them to enhance their administrative and technical capabilities through strengthening their human resource development.
  
  A significant contribution of this scheme is to provide assistance to the member countries of the Colombo Plan. Under the scheme, visits made by the participants from these countries are fully funded by the Government of India. Every year, around 400 personnel receive training under this scheme.

  The member countries are:

  Afghanistan	Fiji	Laos	Myanmar	Philippines	Thailand
  Bangladesh	Indonesia	Malaysia	Nepal	South Korea
  Bhutan	Iran	Maldives	Papua New Guinea	Sri Lanka

• Nomination and Selection
  The Government of India (Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance) under its Technical Cooperation Scheme of the Colombo Plan seeks nominations from suitably qualified candidates:
  
  Candidates wishing to apply for the programmes are required to submit their application in the prescribed format duly filled (enclosed Form A.2-3) in duplicate at least two months before commencement of the programme to the Indian Embassy/High Commission in the applicant's country. The nomination form (Form A.2-3) is also available with the Indian Embassy/High Commission. The completed nominations are to be submitted to the Indian Embassy/High Commission, after completing the necessary formalities from respective government/department of the applicant's country.
  
  The Indian Embassy/High Commission after scrutinising the applications depending on availability of slots allotted to each country forwards these nominations to the Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Government of India.
  
  The Department of Economic Affairs processes these nominations with the Indian Institute of Capital Markets. The Institute, after determining the suitability of the candidates, invites them through the Indian missions / embassies under intimation to the Department of Economic Affairs.
  
  Due to the heavy demand and limited number of slots available for each country, it will be in the interest of the applicants if applications, after completing all the formalities, are to be forwarded to the Embassy, two months prior to the commencement of the training programme.
  
  Each nominating authority is requested to nominate up to four candidates for consideration of selection. Please ensure that candidates nominated meet with the qualifications, requirements as specified above and a valid passport.
  
  Please note that the completed forms are to be forwarded through the Indian embassy/high commission of the applicant's country only. Direct application will not be considered for participation.
  
  The basic criteria for selection would be the level and work experience of candidates in order that a cohesive and homogeneous group could be gathered for the programme. Sometimes candidates are not selected because they may be over-qualified.
  
  Member countries are kindly requested to inform as soon as possible if they do not wish to participate in the workshop, so that vacancies thus created could be allocated to other interested countries.
  
  Candidates who are selected would be informed of their acceptance at least two weeks prior to the commencement of the programme.
  
  The air passage is arranged by the Indian missions / embassies in participating countries.

• Preparatory Work by Participants
  Selected participants are required to write a case study which will elaborate the current status of the financial markets in terms of financial services rendered, instruments traded and operational details thereto, etc. in their respective countries.

• Number of Participants
  Up to 25 candidates per programme

• Closing Date for Nominations
  Twenty days before the commencement of each programme.

• Implementing Agency & Venue
  Indian Institute of Capital Markets (Formerly UTI Institute of Capital Markets)
  Post Box. No.99, Plot 82, Sector 17, Vashi, Navi Mumbai – 400 703, INDIA
  Tel: +91-22-2788 3018/2788 3014/27883000 (Board Line),
  Fax No: +91-22-7892824
  Website: www.utiicm.com

• Contact Person: Mr. A. S. Ramayya, Senior Officer / Ms. Latha Borah
  Tel: +91 22 27883018 (D)/ 27883014, (EPABX) +91 22 27883000
  Email : asramayya@utiicm.com , tcs@utiicm.com , utiicm@vsnl.com

Note: Information relating to programmes, sponsorship, nomination process and application forms are also available in the Government of India, Ministry of Finance website: www.finmin.nic.in