Experts Speak for Acquiring Emerging Technologies

Science and technology experts from OIC member states have strongly recommended acquiring new and emerging technologies for rapid development in the region. The experts observed this during Conference on Science and Technology held on May 24, 2009 as a parallel event to the 36th Conference of the OIC Foreign Ministers, in Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic.

Professor Dr. Atta-ur-Rahman, Coordinator General of the OIC Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH), was among the keynote speakers.

Prof. Atta-ur-Rahman highlighted the need for reviewing the current status of the science and technology policies of the OIC member states and stressed to match those with regard to 21st century’s challenges. He also highlighted the role of COMSTECH in technology promotion and described importance of recently launched COMSTECH Technology Exchange Forum for OIC member states.

The first session was also addressed by Dr. Mukhtar Hatim, Assistant Secretary General, Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Dr. Razley bin Mohd Nordin, the Director General of the OIC Science and Technology Department.

The Conference held with the theme “Scientific and Technological Achievements and Discoveries in the Field of New and Emerging Technologies”, hailed OIC Vision 1441 for Science and Technology and the OIC Ten-Year Programme of Action which urges acquisition of advanced technologies.

Early Harvest and Mega Projects, which speak for facilitating transfer of research and development results through joint design, development, manufacturing and common marketing of high technology products, were also elaborated before the participants.

The second session of the conference reviewed innovation systems in the OIC member states. The speakers examined innovation systems of the advanced nations and recommended how the OIC nations can evolve mechanisms and approaches for the joint action within the OIC countries and generate wealth through economic activities.

The speakers presented the progress, latest developments and achievements in biotechnology, agro-technology and nanotechnology fields and proposed joint action on the subjects in order to make collective advancement in the OIC region.

The closing ceremony of the conference, during which the keynote speakers shared their views in order to offer recommendations, was moderated by Ambassador Ali Akbar Salehi, Assistant Secretary General of the OIC on science and technology.

The conference noted with concern that the indicators related to the share of OIC member states in high technology exports amounts to only 1.5% of the world’s high-tech exports. These products are mainly produced by only three member states including Malaysia, Indonesia and Turkey.

While acknowledging that the current contribution of the Islamic countries in the world science and technology development is very weak, the conference recommended that high priority should be accorded to the science and technology development, particularly, in the field of emerging technologies for progress and prosperity of the OIC member states.

In its final report, the 36th Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers commended the Syrian Government, COMSTECH, Islamic Development Bank (IDB) and other related OIC institutions and made a note of the recommendations by the conference.