CUBA, SOUTH AFRICA AND
JORDAN KEEN ON STRENGTHENING COOPERATION WITH INDIA IN SCIENCE
AND EDUCATION
Cuba, South Africa and Jordan have expressed
their desire to strengthen cooperation with India in the scientific
and educational fields. The main areas in which they sought India’s
help include bio-technology, information technology and higher
education. At meetings with the Minister for Human Resource Development
and Science and Technology, here today, Dr. Fidel Castro Diaz
Balart, eminent scientist and son of President Fidel Castro of
Cuba, Dr. Ben Ngubane, Minister for Arts, Culture, Science &
Technology of South Africa, Dr. Abdul Salam Majali, President
of the Islamic Academy of Sciences and former Prime Minister of
Jordan hailed India’s advances in frontier areas of science and
technology as well as higher education and wanted to establish
linkages with the scientific and higher education institutions
in India. These leaders are currently in New Delhi taking part
in the General Conference of the Third World Academy of Sciences.
Dr. Fidel Castro and Dr. Joshi also discussed
matters relating to the next meeting of the Indo-Cuban Joint Committee
on Science and Technology. One of the joint research projects
successfully implemented by the two sides include ‘Cancer Radio-immuno-therapy’.
Dr. Ben Ngubane who also heads the Commonwealth
Science Council discussed with Dr. Joshi subjects relating to
linkage of Commonwealth Laboratories, exchange of scientists and
students and strengthening the traditional knowledge base. They
also discussed joint projects to be initiated under the Indo-South
African S&T Cooperation Programme.
Dr. Abdul Salam Majali urged Dr. Joshi to
extend all possible support for development of Human Resources
in Information Technology, particularly Software and in several
areas of bio-technology including aqua-culture. He also sought
India’s help in strengthening Jordan’s knowledge economy and linkages
with institutes of higher education like the IITs.
Dr. Joshi told them that India is always
ready to share its expertise with the developing world and stands
for strengthening cooperation with the third world nations.
