Tuesday, December 13 2005 19:03 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kuala Lumpur: India today (Dec 13, 2005) said it will contribute five million dollars to replenish the India-ASEAN Fund which would help finance a string of proposals, including setting up of tele-education network for four developing ASEAN nations linked with New Delhi through satellite. The four countries are Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam.

Addressing leaders at the fourth ASEAN-India summit, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said New Delhi would also contribute one million dollars to the ASEAN Development Fund.

Observing that India is a source of effective and affordable drugs and could contribute in supplying drugs to tackle cases like HIV, flu etc, the Prime Minister said India was ready to offer generic versions of anti-viral drugs, Secretary East Rajiv Sikri told reporters.

At the summit, India also proposed the setting up of permanent centres for English language training in the four countries.

"The objective would be to equip students, civil servants, professionals and businessmen with adequate English language and communication skills," a statement issued here said.

India's dominance in the field of IT was widely recognised and applauded at the meeting by all countries with the Prime Minister proposing that an India-ASEAN.Technology Summit be organised in 2006.

"It is proposed that an India-ASEAN IT ministerial and industry forum be organised in 2006 through the department of information technology," Singh said.

The ASEAN countries also appreciated India's educational institutions, prompting the country to propose that Education Consultants India LTD will organise Education fairs and a road show in ASEAN next year.

Both public and private universities and educational institutions will be associated with the initiative.

India has also proposed the setting up of a special training course for diplomats from the ASEAN countries through India's Foreign Service Institute.