MTCP and IPPTAR

In line with the spirit of south-South Cooperation, Malaysia implemented a technical cooperation programme since 1980, i.e. the Malaysian technical Cooperation Programme (MTCP) with a view to sharing development experiences with other developing countries. The Programme forms part of the strategy and commitment of the Malaysian Government towards the promotion of technical cooperation among developing countries, strengthening of regional and sub-regional cooperation, and nurturing of collective self-reliance among developing countries.

The MTCP, originally confined to members of ASEAN, OIC and the Pacific Island developing countries was expanded to include, among others, Commonwealth member countries in the Caribbean; Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam, DPR Korea, Mongolia and Timur Timor in Asia; Argentina, Chile, Peru, Brazil, Mexico, Suriname and Venezuela in Latin America; Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan in Central Asia; Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia in Eastern Europe. At present 133 countries are listed as MTCP participating countries

The type of cooperation available under the MTCP are training (short-term specialized courses and long-term degree course), study visits, attachment, services for experts and the provision of supplies and equipment (on a very selective basis) and the undertaking of socio-economic projects.

As people constitutes a major asset for the development of a country, the MTCP continued to emphasize the development of human resources through the provision of training at 5 participating local universities and 18 training institutions. Training offered under MTCP enable the international participants to exchange information, share development experiences as well as acquiring new knowledge. These training programmes also contributed towards increasing awareness of the potential benefits of south-south cooperation. The participation of Malaysians in these programmes further assisted in establishing closer working relationships between Malaysia and other developing countries.

IPPTAR, as the training arm for broadcasting and information under the Information, Communication and Cultural Ministry has been involved in the MTCP from 1984. Eighty courses have been conducted by IPTAR since then. More than Five hundred (500) foreign participants from 67 countries have benefited.

MTCP is financed through several modalities. It could be full funded by the Malaysian Government; fully funded by the recipient Government; third party funding or through cost-sharing arrangements involving the Malaysian Government, recipient Government and third parties