OIC Summit hails COMSTECH’s Efforts

• COMSTECH moving forward on STI Agenda 2026, despite financial crunch: President Alvi

By Hamid Khan Wazir

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Dr. Arif Alvi, the President of Pakistan and Chair of OIC Ministerial Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH), said that COMSTECH is moving forward on the Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Agenda 2026, in spite of a severe financial crunch.

President made these remarks in his recorded statement delivered in the inaugural session of the second OIC Summit on Science and Technology held virtually which was hosted by the United Arab Emirates.

As Chairman COMSTECH, he proposed to place focus on African member states for health and agriculture development with particular emphasis on biosaline agriculture, COVID-19 related technology and capacity building, initiation of research fellowships and technical training programs for African science community, and addressing challenge of environmental degradation and rehabilitation.

Dr. Alvi appreciated COMSTECH efforts and urged member states to mobilize resources and come forward with their contributions to COMSTECH programmes.

OIC Summit appreciated the leadership of Dr. Arif Alvi for promoting intra–OIC scientific and technological cooperation for the implementation of OIC STI Agenda 2026 and advancement of science, technology and innovation in the member states, especially the Least Developed Countries (LDCs).

The Summit resolved to further intensify efforts to fulfil the goals and targets of the OIC STI Agenda 2026 through a series of focused initiatives and programs to be proposed by COMSTECH in coordination with General Secretariat and other relevant OIC institutions and called upon the member states, who have the resources, to consider providing necessary financial and technical support to COMSTECH and General Secretariat to carry out initiatives.

The Summit called on COMSTECH to develop a comprehensive roadmap for establishing technology transfer mechanisms amongst the OIC member states in collaboration with General Secretariat and other international partners.

The Summit commended the efforts of COMSTECH for forging multinational cooperation on varietal development, preservation and integration into the seed system, and appreciated the efforts of the General Secretariat and COMSTECH for identifying leading institutions and scientists of the member states and mapping their science publication profiles and called upon COMSTECH to establish links with the goal of promoting exchange of knowledge and expertise among these institutions.