VENEZUELA TO ESTABLISH CENTRE FOR TECHNOLOGY DEMONSTRATION AND DIFFUSION TO PROMOTE INDIAN HOUSING TECHNOLOGIES

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A high level delegation from Venezuela led by Dr. Rudolf Romer, Vice Minister of Science and Technology, concluded the 5-day visit to India today after a meeting with Shri L M Mehta, Secretary, Department of Urban Employment and Poverty Alleviation. The delegation while appreciating the technologies that are available in India in the area of innovative building materials and cost effective construction techniques, conveyed their willingness to establish a Centre for Technology Demonstration and Diffusion in Venezuela. They further conveyed to the Secretary that in view of the usefulness of Indian technologies for developing countries in Latin American region, the proposed Centre is expected to become a Regional Centre for the entire Latin American region. Shri Mehta, on behalf of the Ministry assured the visiting delegation that the Building Materials and Technology Promotion Council (BMTPC) and Housing & Urban Development Corporation Ltd. (HUDCO) will join hands in strengthening the capacity of the proposed Centre in Venezuela.

Shri Mehta further offered the Venezuelan delegation to utilise the training services available at Human Settlements Management Institute (HSMI) of HUDCO in capacity building and training of professionals in the area of urban development and management.