Biotech Updates

UN Sec-General Stresses Role of S&T in Africa's Development

November 23, 2007

“One of the most effective channels for eradicating poverty, creating wealth and enhancing competitiveness in Africa is through the acquisition, adaptation and application of relevant technologies,” said United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in his message for the Africa Industrialization Day.

The Secretary General pointed out that many African countries are lagging behind the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) despite the rich natural resources in the continent since they lack the technical capacity to transform raw materials to finished products. MDGs consist of a set of goals to eradicate poverty, hunger and child mortality by 2015. Ban Ki-moon urged support for the various efforts aimed at harnessing science and technology in support of the attainment of the MDGs in Africa.

UN General Assembly President Srgjan Kerim called for a renewed commitment “to sustainable economic growth and development in Africa through industrial and technological development, technology-transfer, trade and investment, so that the continent might be able to attain the MDGs.”

Read the complete article at http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=24731&Cr=africa&Cr1=industrialization