About 150 delegates, representing 46 developing countries will attend the 13th Governing Council meeting of the Centre for Science and Technology of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM S&T Centre), from 2 to 3 September 2013 at the Hilton Hotel, Sandton.
The Minister of Science and Technology, Derek Hanekom will deliver a keynote address at the opening ceremony on Monday, 2 September from 9am. After the formal opening of the Governing Council, South Africa will assume the Presidency of the NAM S&T Centre (2013 to 2016).
During this period South Africa, through the Department of Science and Technology, will chair meetings of the Bureau of the Governing Council until the 14th Governing Council in 2016. This puts the country in a better position to ensure that the centre addresses science and technology needs and challenges faced by the African continent.
The Centre for Science and Technology of the Non-Aligned and other Developing Countries was set up in 1989 as an inter-governmental organisation in pursuance of the decisions taken at various summits of the heads of state or government of the Non-Aligned Movement countries.
Some 46 developing countries (15 of which are from the African continent), represented by their government departments/ministries and agencies dealing with science and technology, have so far joined the NAM S&T Centre as members.
The centre aims to bring the developing countries to the forefront of science through networking, sharing knowledge and pooling resources. It plays a crucial role in organising training programmes and workshops, and prepares state-of-the-art reports on topics of scientific and socio-economic relevance to developing countries.
It also aims to establish new connectivity for interlinking the database of science and technology experts and expertise with their national programmes, and dovetailing the promotion of technological cooperation and transfer of technology initiatives with the science and technology cooperation networks in these countries.
