ECA calls on African scientists to use ICT to shield continent from global crisis, initiate growth
View
Download
Published
2009-04Author(s)/Corporate Author (s)
United Nations. Economic Commission for Africa.;Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
A senior official of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) today called on African scientists to develop scientific proposals on how governments of the continent could cope with the current economic crisis and initiate growth. Addressing over 600 scientists from Africa and various parts of the world who began meeting in Addis Ababa today at the First Session of the Committee on Development Information, Science and Technology (CODIST-1), Mr. Josué Dioné, Director, Food Security and Sustainable Development Division and Officer-in-Charge of ECA said African governments ought to take decisive action to support the development of science and technology, which, he said, is the basis for any sustainable development initiative. Speaking on behalf of Mr. Abdoulie Janneh, the Executive Secretary of ECA, Mr Dioné said that “as a coping mechanism and a shield against the global financial crisis, many countries are responding by investing in science and technology”. He cited China, India and the United States of America as examples. “These examples should not be lost on Africa, and I hope the deliberations of the next three days will address how African countries can use STI not only to shield themselves from the current crisis but also to prepare their economies to become more competitive for growth,” he said.