Programme Director, Mmboneni Muofhe
Members of the Council
Excellencies, Ambassadors and High Commissioners
Director of the NAM S&T Centre, Prof Arun Kulshreshtha
Distinguished guests.
I am delighted to welcome you on behalf of the people of South Africa to our beautiful country. As we have previously enjoyed the hospitality of other Non-Aligned Movement member countries, it is now our turn to return the favour.
To start off with, I would like to acknowledge the leadership Egypt provided in steering the NAM S&T Centre during its tenure as President since 2009. This is evident with the successful chairing of the two Bureau meetings in Sri Lanka and Nepal in 2010 and 2012 respectively.
Notwithstanding the many developmental challenges that we grapple with as developing countries, our people and institutions have, with limited resources, demonstrated an indefatigable spirit to improve the living conditions of men and women in all countries of the world.
Through this global collaboration, the shared developments and advances in science and technology are changing the way we live and communicate. There is no doubt that the sharing of ideas and the development of improved scientific products and services will bear positive spin-offs in the area of economic development and in our endeavours to address some of the socio-economic challenges facing us.
This NAM S&T Governing Council meeting today is testimony to the realisation that no nation can survive and grow in isolation in this era of globalisation. Our survival and growth depend on the successful and continuous exploitation of science, technology and innovation.
It was against this background that the NAM S&T Centre was established as an inter-governmental organisation, after the adoption of the Statutes of the Centre at the Meeting of the Plenipotentiaries of the Non-Aligned countries held in New York in February 1985.
South Africa has always valued South-South relations, owing to our similar historical experiences and developmental challenges. Through my department, South Africahas contributed for several years to the India, Brazil, South Africa, or IBSA, science and technology partnership, and also represents South Africa in the science and technology forums of the BRICS group, to which South Africa was admitted in 2011.
International cooperation and investments are vitally important to support the implementation of national, regional and multilateral research and innovation programmes that are informed by developmental challenges experienced by NAM member countries. Innovation, underpinned by high quality scientific research, is critical to address our common challenges of poverty and underdevelopment.
Multilateral initiatives like this centre allow all of us to leverage scientific cooperation and foster the building of trust among our member countries, so that we develop consensus on contentious issues, and work out collective strategies to tackle some of our most pressing global challenges.
Fostering South-South relations is an increasingly important strategic priority for South Africa, not only in politics and trade; but also in science. South Africa's championing of science for sustainable development is central to our participation in NAM S&T Centre activities, projects and programmes.
It is refreshing to note that 17 out of the 47 NAM S&T Centre member countries are based in African countries. Africa has dropped its mantle as a “doomed continent” and has, as a region, weathered the global economic crisis extremely well. Fifteen out of the top thirty fastest growing economies in the world today are African countries. Indeed, we have become a continent of opportunity, both for Africans and international investors.
However, the other side of the story that we have to face head-on is that we are still a long way from realising our full potential.The lack of a highly skilled workforce, especially in disciplines related to science and technology, must feature as one of our biggest single challenges. Without tapping into our technology potential, the continent will find it difficult to achieve the poverty alleviation and education targets as presented in the Millennium Development Goals.
It is on this basis that we welcome the opportunity to participate in NAM S&T governing structures such as Bureau of the Governing Council, as well as training courses, workshops, fellowships, international research collaborations and internships in different scientific fields.
Former US President, John F. Kennedy, once remarked “Our progress as a nation, can be no faster than our progress in education.” This observation has special resonance for developing countries in general; and the African continent in particular. In the midst of the region’s economic resurgence, underperforming education and science systems continue to blight prospects for sustained and inclusive development, trapping millions of citizens in a cycle of poverty and unemployment.
As we assume the presidential duties assigned by this body, South Africa is aware of the expectations of NAM member countries. We are committed to executing this mandate with the zeal and focus it demands. Central to this mandate is the recognition of our common humanity, and the acceptance that our futures our bound together.
We are encouraged and inspired by the words of our global icon, former president Nelson Mandela, who once remarked that “We owe it to all the peoples of the sub-continent to ensure that they see in us, not merely good leaders waxing lyrical about development, but as the front commanders in the blast furnaces of labour, productive investments and visible change”.
Our main objective is the development of our people, irrespective of whether they are located in the South or North. Science, technology and innovation are the means through which responsible nations achieve the goals of human development.
Most NAM S&T member countries, including South Africa, are blessed with an abundance of mineral resources. However, these resources are often not fully exploited due to a lack of skills and modern and innovative research and technology facilities. Most minerals are exported as ores, concentrates or metals, without significant downstream processing or value addition.
Considering where developing countries are on the economic ladder, there is huge potential for growth and development. It is widely expected that there will be a rebalancing of the world economic order in the next few decades, and developing nations have to strive to keep up with changing circumstances.
South Africa would like to contribute to developing the necessary science and technology skills in the area of minerals processing and beneficiation. We will host a training programme on minerals processing and beneficiation to develop capacity and ensure technology transfer among the NAM S&T member states.
To expedite matters, the DST and South Africa's Department of Mineral Resources, in collaboration with institutions such as Mintek and the Minerals Processing and Beneficiation Industry Association of Southern Africa, hosted a NAM S&T workshop on minerals processing and beneficiation in September 2012.
This workshop resulted in the adoption of a resolution for member states to build capacity in this area. This is what South Africa would like to do during its tenure as President of the NAM S&T Centre, thereby ensuring that member states commit to working jointly towards building capacity.
More details on the training programme on minerals processing and beneficiation will be made available to you through the Secretariat, but I would like to stress that all member countries are encouraged to take full advantage of this opportunity.
In conclusion, I wish to remind everyone that these deliberations offer the hope for a better world and future for the billions of citizens of the world. We dare not fail them. Let us be part of the solution.
I thank you.
