4 July 2006
Department of Science and Technology Minister, Mr Mosibudi Mangena, will
officially open a one-day conference of Ministers responsible for science and
technology in the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) region, to be
held at the Sheraton Hotel in Pretoria on 7 July 2006. The conference, the
first of its kind to be held in South Africa, will be chaired by the Lesotho
Minister for Communications, Science and Technology, MT Thabane. The
Ministerial conference will be preceded by a senior officials segment, on the 6
July 2006.
The main objective of the conference is to prepare for the SADC Summit that
will take place in Lesotho in August 2006. Issues to be discussed include
modalities for the implementation of the SADC Council resolution of February
2006, which mandated the SADC Secretariat to create an office for science and
technology. To date the SADC Secretariat does not have the capacity to
co-ordinate science and technology matters.
Science and technology have been recognised as critical instruments for
accelerating economic growth and social development. The applications of
scientific research and technological development cut across all areas of
development that are critical for African countries including agriculture,
health, education and industrial development. The Southern African region plans
to align its science and technology programmes with those contained in the New
Partnership for Africaâs Development (NEPAD) programme.
The Ministers from the SADC region attending the conference on 7 July will
also use the opportunity to visit some of the country's premier science and
technology institutions, including the Council for Scientific and Industrial
Research, (CSIR), the National Research Foundation (NRF), the Agricultural
Research Council (ARC) and the Innovation Hub.
The conference will build on the on the framework for science and technology
which was adopted in Zimbabwe in April 2006. This framework outlines the
specific actions for science and technology in the SADC which include:
* the establishment of a SADC Science and Technology office within the
Secretariat, which will facilitate the promotion of co-operation in science,
technology and innovation within SADC;
* mobilising financial and technical resources to implement programmes and
projects contained in the SADCs Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan
(RISDP).
* co-ordinate the implementation of the NEPAD Science and Technology Plan in
Southern Africa;
* ensuring that the SADC countries contribute to and benefit from the global
pool of scientific knowledge and technological innovations.
The African Union (AU) has earmarked the January 2007 Science and Technology
Summit. This week's SADC Ministerial conference will also feed inputs into the
AU summit.
For more information about the SADC conference please contact Phumelele
Magubane at (012) 843 6385/082 387 5608 or email phumelele.magubane@dst.gov.za
For further enquiries contact:
Nthabi Maoela
Cell: 073 648 2876
E-mail: nthabiseng.maoela@dst.gov.za
Kristin Klose
Manager: Communication
Cell: 082 902 9503
E-mail: kristin.klose@dst.gov.za
Nelvis Qekema
Ministerial Media Liaison
Cell: 082 571 2571
E-mail: nelvis.qekema@dst.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Science and Technology
4 July 2006
Source: SAPA
