Indian science, technology institutes to help S. Africa

Friday, 17 October 2003, 19:30 IST
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JOHANNESBURG: Several Indian institutes for science and technology will help South Africa in these fields through technical and human resource interventions. A delegation from the South African ministry of science and technology, which started a working visit to India ahead of the current state visit by President Thabo Mbeki and a nine-strong ministerial delegation, said here that offers of assistance had been received from at least three such institutions in India. Departmental spokesman Nhlanhla Nyide said discussions with Indian institutions and government officials placed emphasis on action through collaboration, partnership and joint ventures. A delegation from the Department of Science and Technology, led by Minister Ben Ngubane, will also join President Mbeki in Hyderabad Thursday to interact with biotech, pharmaceutical, and ICT companies with a view to fostering collaboration, joint ventures and partnerships on research and development. India's National Institute of Science Communication and Information Resources (NISCAIR) has offered assistance to conduct a computer-based functional literacy project which uses ICT tools to drastically accelerate the learning process. The Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research, using its experience in setting up advanced ICT institutes in India, will provide technical and human resource assistance to set up the South African Advanced Institute for ICT. The Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology has offered to host and train young South African scientists in any area of bio-informatics. The institute is also keen to engage South African scientists in a population genomics programme, because of the wealth of human diversity in South Africa. Dhesigen Naidoo, deputy director general of the Department of Science and Technology in South Africa, who led the delegation, said: "India has been identified as a model by South Africa because it has been able to promote socio-economic growth through the use of science and technology and achieve remarkable success in a short space of time. "Today India ranks among few developing countries which have achieved self-sufficiency in food production. The country has endeavoured to fulfil the basic needs of healthcare and housing for a large section of its people. "In the field of basic research, we want to collaborate, partner and understand the models they have used to establish major research groups with world class capabilities in various emerging and frontline areas of science such as molecular biology, numerical weather prediction, astrophysics, biomedical devices."
Source: IANS