M Mangena: Southern African Development Community

27 October 2006

Ambassadors of the Member States of the SADC,
Excellencies,
Honoured Guests,
Colleagues and friends,

I was indeed most pleased to learn that my visit to Belgium coincided with
the annual SADC celebration in Brussels. Regional co-operation, partnership and
integration within Southern Africa have always been close to my heart. I
therefore greatly appreciate the privilege you have afforded me to address you
tonight. It is my intention to share with you some thoughts on the important
role played by science and technology in the development of our region, and
indeed the continent.

Let me also say that tonight's celebration could not have come at a more
appropriate moment. These are most exciting times for our region. Like me, you
have undoubtedly also been heartened by the news that emanated from the
Extraordinary SADC Summit, which was held in Johannesburg earlier this week.
With our Heads of State and Governments committing to the fast-tracking of
especially economic integration, including the launching of the free trade area
and preparations for the customs union, the prospects for closer regional
partnership are better than ever. The evident close co-operation between the
various SADC missions here in Brussels is indeed tangible evidence of what can
be achieved.

I am convinced that we can only meet the challenges of the twenty-first
century, including globalisation and poverty alleviation, if we enhance our
regional partnership, based on the principles of equity, balanced development
and mutual benefit. In this regard, the announced strengthening of the SADC
Secretariat, and the commitment by member states to avail greater resources to
SADC programmes, certainly bode well for the strengthening of co-operation.

I am pleased to inform you that science and technology is playing a critical
part in moving the SADC agenda forward. We have a vibrant and active SADC
Science and Technology Ministerial Forum, which regularly meets to consider and
launch joint initiatives. These include an intensive policy dialogue, the
promotion of public understanding and awareness of science and technology, as
well as joint research and development projects in strategic domains, such as
biotechnology, information and communication technology and indigenous
knowledge systems.

The SADC science and technology activities also constitute one of the
implementation instruments for Africa's Science and Technology Consolidated
Plan of Action. This plan, adopted in 2003 by the African Ministers' Council on
Science and Technology (AMCOST), under the auspices of the African Union and
New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), is a powerful platform for
developing policies and setting priorities for science, technology and
innovation for Africa's development. With the full and high-level commitment of
all our governments, the Consolidated Plan represents an important watershed in
the prioritisation of science and technology as an instrument for African
development.

Important strides forward have been registered over the past three years
with regard to the implementation of the Consolidated Plan. As you may know,
this will culminate with the African Union Summit of January 2007, which will
be dedicated to the theme of scientific research, technology and innovation for
Africa's socio-economic development. An extraordinary meeting of African
Ministers' Council on Science and Technology, which will be held in Egypt, will
prepare for this session. This is certainly not a process limited to
governments. For example, the organisation of a Congress of African Scientists
and Policymakers, taking place over the coming days in Alexandria, will
formulate specific recommendations to the Summit.

Science and technology is therefore undoubtedly and unequivocally an African
and indeed SADC priority. As ambassadors, diplomats, representatives and
friends of our region in the influential capital of Europe, you all have a
special role to play in support of the efforts to strengthen SADC's science and
technology capacities. I would like to conclude my short address this evening,
with some suggestions regarding science and technology actions that the SADC
community in Brussels could undertake.

The first and perhaps most obvious is to strengthen our bilateral scientific
co-operation with Belgium at both the federal and regional level. Belgium has
an important array of research and technology organisations with relevant
expertise to Africa, especially in areas such as agriculture research or the
biomedical sciences. Our very venue for tonight, the Central Africa Museum is a
rich depository of scientific knowledge related to our continent, especially in
biodiversity and the geological sciences. There is tremendous goodwill and
interest towards co-operation with Africa among the Belgian research community,
which I can only urge you to exploit.

With regard to the European Union (EU), the so-called Framework Programmes,
the Seventh of which is about to be launched, are invaluable mechanisms to
connect and integrate our researchers with European networks of excellence. The
experience gained and capacities built through Framework Programme
participation are critical for the growth of the African knowledge economy.
These instruments are, however, not easy to engage with and much work must be
done to convince European researchers to partner with African counterparts.

The SADC Embassies in Brussels are ideally placed to play an important role
in support of our region's Framework Programme participation. Apart from
marketing SADC as a partner of choice, they should also engage constructively
and concertedly with the European Commission and EU Member States to include in
the programme, instruments and opportunities conducive to greater African
participation. In this way, you will render our region a great service with
engagements in this regard.

The last area of intervention I would like to highlight is that of
development co-operation. It is long overdue that science and technology should
assume its rightful place as a priority focus area for the European Development
Fund, both within the prioritisation of our own National Indicative Programmes
within the Regional Indicative Programmes such as the one for SADC and also
within the programmes of the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States. We
will not achieve sustainable development and growth and convincingly defeat
poverty if we and our development partners, do not jointly invest in and
develop our knowledge generation and innovation capacities.

Whether it is in the fighting of diseases, the enabling of more efficient
service provision to the rural poor, supporting small and medium enterprises or
small-scale farmers, or in providing better communication infrastructure,
science and technology has become the lifeblood of the well-being of our
region. But perhaps more importantly, we should never lose sight of the reality
that new knowledge is created by people, technology is transferred by people,
and joint projects are undertaken by people. Science and technology therefore
bring people together within our region and between the regions of the world.
As a vehicle for the advancement of the spirit of Ubuntu, the power of
knowledge and innovation is often underestimated. Let us therefore harness
science and technology for the good of region, and for a stronger, more united
SADC.

I am truly proud to be among you tonight. Despite the many challenges we
have to address, I have no doubt that our region can advance to the future with
confidence if our march is bolstered by the power of science and technology. In
wishing you well in the very important tasks you are entrusted with here in
Brussels, I wish to take this opportunity to convey my gratitude for your
efforts, and look forward to further co-operation.

I thank you for your time.

Issued by: Department Science and Technology
27 October 2006
Source: Department Science and Technology (http://www.dst.gov.za)