launch of the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology,
Cape Town
10 September 2007
Programme Director, Phil Mjwara,
Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Town, Njabulo Ndebele,
South African Minister of Science and Technology, Mosibudi Mangena,
Minister of University and Research from Italy, Fabio Mussi,
The Director-General of the ICGEB, Professor Franscisco Baralle,
Leaders of the South African National System of Innovation,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen,
I would like to thank you for deeming our country worthy of hosting the Cape
Town Component of the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and
Biotechnology (ICGEB), one of only three major international biotechnology
laboratories servicing a seventy-four country partnership.
On behalf of the government and people of South Africa, I am honoured to
extend a warm welcome to all of you.
Let me also take advantage of this occasion to thank the African Ministers'
Conference on Science and Technology (AMCOST) and the New Partnership for
Africa's Development (Nepad) Science and Technology Steering Committee which,
in 2005, agreed that Africa should host the third ICGEB Component.
All of us, as South Africans, appreciate the fact that the Cape Town
Component we are launching today will join its sister Components in Trieste,
Italy and New Delhi, India, together forming one of the most powerful
international facilities for high quality scientific research and training in
the field of biosciences.
The ICGEB is an eminent example of how humanity can put together limited
individual resources within nation states to create a substantial international
force for the good.
As we all know, biotechnology can and must play a key role in addressing
many of the challenges facing the African continent in particular and the
developing world as a whole. This branch of knowledge is making and will make a
critical contribution in terms of addressing contemporary and future needs in
such areas as health, food and energy security, especially in the wake of major
global challenges that include climate change.
Equally, we look to biotechnology to assist us in the developing world to
enhance our capacity in the areas of indigenous knowledge systems and
biodiversity, so that we can develop these areas into sustainable initiatives
for the benefit of all our peoples and humanity as a whole.
Let me take this opportunity to say some few words about what our country
has done in the field of biotechnology. Our country has over the years been
making serious efforts to develop a strong knowledge base in the biosciences.
In fact, four of the world's Nobel Prize winners in biotechnology-related
fields are South Africans.
These are:
* Sydney Brenner, for his work in eluding controlled cell-death during organ
development, (2002),
* Aaron Klug on macromolecular biology, (1982),
* Allan Cormack for co-inventing the CT scan (1979),
* Max Theiler, for his work on yellow fever (1951).
We are indeed very proud of these high achievers who, through their work,
demonstrate the potential for science to turn the tide of poverty in Africa and
help us to build a modern, knowledge driven-economy.
Indeed, one of the critical challenges facing our continent is to ensure
that we produce sufficient numbers of experts in the area of science and
technology, inspired by the example set by these eminent scientists.
I must also register our sincere appreciation of the position taken by the
governments of the G8 countries during the 2005 G8 Gleneagles Summit Meeting,
which, at the suggestion of the Government of Italy, supported the
establishment of the African component of the ICGEB.
In this regard, let me also convey our country's special thanks to the
former Italian Minister of University and Research, Letizia Moratti, who was
very instrumental in ensuring that the ICGEB component in Africa becomes the
reality we are witnessing today.
We would also like to extend this genuine gratitude to our counterparts on
the African continent, Nigeria and Tanzania, for the remarkable spirit of
partnership and support shown to us after our country was selected to host this
Centre. Without doubt, the bidding campaign to host the African component of
the ICGEB was conducted truly in the spirit of the African Renaissance.
Following the extraordinary success of The Human Genome and Africa
Conference, hosted by our country in March 2003, and the decision to turn the
event into an annual forum, conference delegates committed themselves to
prepare for the era of genomics and its consequences by, among others:
* improving the quality of education in this field at all levels,
* improving awareness and understanding of genetics and its consequences, among
governments, health services administrators and the medical profession,
including the establishment of regulatory systems and ethical review structures
to regulate and evaluate the wide variety of technologies that are being
developed from genomics,
* facilitating the formation of regional networks and establishing centres for
genetic research programmes that would address the health problems pertinent to
our region and the Continent,
* developing mechanisms effectively to communicate the relevant scientific
concepts and engaging the general public in an informed dialogue.
I have no doubt that this Cape Town component of the ICGEB will make an
important contribution in our effort to address the challenges identified
during the subsequent Genomics and Africa Conferences and in Africa's Science
and Technology Consolidated Plan of Action with regard to reversing the 'brain
drain' and turning it into a 'brain gain' for our Continent.
Of great importance to us as Africans, the breaking of the genetic code and
the deeper understanding of the human genome have begun to change our grasp of
human origins, of domestication, of migration and development.
This knowledge will increase our understanding of humanity's travails over
millennia and will, through this enlightenment, also have the added benefit of
lessening ill-begotten and pernicious racial and ethnic prejudices among and
between the peoples of the world.
In addition to teaching us about the evolution of humanity, the Human Genome
Project will inform us about how diseases develop and how we can prevent and
otherwise respond to them. It will, simply, change our scientific horizons and,
with that, the ethical and legal framework within which we operate.
As you know, this has enormous implications for the continent of Africa in
medicine, in law, in history, in sociology and in shifting Africa's location
away from the periphery of modern scientific and cultural development, to the
centre.
We are also confident that significant scientific advances will indeed be
made in the fight against malaria, tuberculosis, pneumonia, HIV and Aids and
other major diseases that, most unfortunately, receive too little public
attention.
These advances are almost certain to be achieved as a consequence of our
better understanding of the Human Genome and will inevitably have a huge impact
on the African people. They are also likely to throw new light on humanity's
capacity to shape its environment.
Having declared the 21st an African Century, it is of vital importance, in
the affairs of genomics, that Africa is not left behind. To advance, we have to
build partnerships that will ensure that we travel an epic journey of discovery
and renewal together with the rest of the world.
In this regard, I am particularly pleased that Africa has already performed
a key role in the Human Genome initiative. As I said, South African geneticist
Sydney Brenner won the Nobel Prize for Medicine for his work in genomics, and
world-renowned South African scientist Professor Himla Soodyall of the
University of Witwatersrand, has already briefed the South African Cabinet
about her discoveries concerning human migration patterns based on the tracking
of mitochondrial DNA.
As we gather here today, dozens of other African scientists are currently
engaged in investigating different aspects of the 80 000 cells that
collectively define the characteristics and proclivities of every individual on
the planet.
This work, focused on the sciences and the advancement of scientific
research and education, is fully in keeping with the agenda of the African
Union's (AU) blueprint for development, the New Partnership for Africa's
Development (Nepad).
At the same time we recognise and acknowledge the critical constraints that
inhibit the formation of new knowledge on our continent. In particular, the
lack of adequately trained biotechnologists, suitable laboratory facilities and
specialised equipment and technical expertise constitute important obstacles to
maximal use of bioscience to address Africa's problems.
It is an established fact that sustainable food production is seriously at
risk in the developing world, including Africa. Accordingly, the application of
new research and development innovations has the potential to help us defeat
hunger and malnutrition, the immediate real dimensions of food insecurity.
Indeed,
plant biotechnology research within this component will play an important role
in this regard.
Sub-Saharan Africa has great strength in the diversity of its flora.
Partnerships and networks in plant biotechnology will be crucial in ensuring
that Africa effectively utilises its biodiversity. In this regard, networks
such as the African Biosciences Network, the United Nations Educational
Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) Microbial Resources Networks
(MIRCENS) in East and West Africa, the Cassava Biotechnology Network and others
must assume greater significance.
These partnerships should and must go beyond the formal institutions and
involve farmers, decision makers and communities in order to benefit our
countries, our regions and the continent. Needless to say, all the initiatives
we have mentioned also require strong and effective public-private
partnerships.
The Nepad African Bioscience Initiative, also housed in South Africa by the
Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), is addressing some of
our challenges by striving to make optimal use of presently available human
resources and facilities, and mobilising public and private resources to
address our key bioscience goals.
Hopefully, the Cape Town component of the ICGEB will support regional
co-operation on biotechnology and strengthen other regional platforms.
The central role played by technology in economic development is
increasingly acknowledged internationally, and there is no doubt that
scientific knowledge and innovation could jump-start and sustain our
continent's development process and ensure that we meet the Millennium
Development Goals.
Being an ICGEB member offers us new opportunities to further our National
Biotechnology Strategy through participation in advanced ICGEB collaborative
research programmes and comprehensive training schemes. In addition, we have
been able to participate in a high-level intergovernmental forum where policy
issues related to bio-safety and technology transfer are discussed.
Our government, through the Department of Science and Technology, is
contributing approximately 4 million Euros towards the start-up costs of the
Cape Town Component of the ICGEB over the next four years. I have it on good
authority that these funds are only sufficient to establish three research
groups, while the component aims to institute a minimum of seven research
groups by 2010.
I therefore invite potential partners to assist and work with this component
to ensure that it realises its objectives. Our government will keep on its
agenda the task to do everything it can to contribute to the success of this
centre.
I am confident that our country and this location will provide a good home
for this component of the ICGEB, as we have done with other science and
technology initiatives aimed at Africa's development, including the African
Laser Centre, the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences and Nepad's
African Biosciences Initiative.
I am truly honoured and thank you for the privilege officially to inaugurate
the Cape Town Component of the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and
Biotechnology (ICGEB). On behalf of our country and continent, I wish everybody
who will work at this centre, as well as their colleagues in Trieste and New
Delhi, success in their important work.
Thank you.
Issued by: The Presidency
10 September 2007
Source: SAPA
