PM’S SPEECH AT THE INAUGURATION
OF SYRIAN NATIONAL BIOTECHNOLOGY CENTRE
Following is the text of the Prime
Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s speech at the inauguration
of Syrian National Biotechnology centre at Damascus, yesterday.
"Mr. President,
Excellencies, Ladies & Gentlemen, It gives me great pleasure
to be here today with the president of the Syrian Arab Republic
at the inauguration of the National Biotechnology Centre. This
Centre symbolizes the transition of India-Syria relations from
its traditional roots to the contemporary age. One of the elements
of the knowledge revolution of our era is the way in which advances
in biotechnology have contributed to accelerated growth and development.
Humankind has
a lot to benefit from biotechnology. Its discoveries and techniques
are of crucial value to developing countries. It provides them
with powerful tools to increase agricultural production, fight
dreaded diseases, combat nutritional deficiencies, and protect
the environment.
However, the development
of biotechnology products is knowledge-based and capital-intensive.
It involves extensive research and development. There is therefore
an obvious logic for developing countries to share experiences
and research findings in the effort to develop the most cost-effective
technology multiplier. Through scientific partnerships and alliances,
our countries can create value-addition to innovation and commercialize
technologies for products which increase human welfare.
India and Syria
have already been sharing expertise in this field, training scientists
and building capacities through programmes at the institutional
and national level. It is this interaction, which has culminated
in the establishment of this national biotechnology centre.
The Executive
Work Plan which we have signed this morning has a five-year road
map for further bilateral cooperation in this sphere, through
increased institutional collaboration for joint research activities,
and exchange of scientists and technical information.
To effectively
implement this comprehensive Work plan, I am happy to announce
that India will extend a grant of one million dollars to the national
Biotechnology Centre of Syria. I hope this will help the Centre
to establish a state-of-the art facility. Such a facility would
not only benefit the people of Syria, but also contribute to the
improvement of the quality of life of all people in the region.
It would also be a powerful demonstration of the immense peaceful
and developmental applications of biotechnology.
Thank you."
