ASEAN - India Science and Technology meeting highlights need to bridge urban and rural divide with focus on affordable technologies
The Meeting of
The Governing Council of ASEAN-INDIA Science and Technology Development Fund
(GC-AISTDF-8) highlighted the importance of India's ASEAN technology
partnership for prosperity of today and for the next generations.
“India recognizes that science and technology will be the
enabling tool to meet the unmet needs of society and address the global
challenges that we all face. We therefore need to leverage more on science and
technology to bridge disparities between urban and rural divide with focus on
affordable technologies for inclusive development, economic growth, and
employment generation. We, therefore, need to leverage more on science and
technology to bridge disparities between urban and rural divide with focus on
affordable technologies for inclusive development, economic growth, and employment
generation,” Dr. Rajesh Gokhale, Secretary of the Department of Science and
Technology (DST) and Chair of India ASEAN Working Group said during the
GC-AISTDF-8 meeting.
The India ASEAN Science and Technology partnership
encompasses all aspects of Research and Innovation, essential for both nations
to achieve new heights together. Through the ASEAN-India Science and Technology
Development Fund (AISTDF) and the Plans of Action for Peace, Progress, and
Shared Prosperity, the collaboration extends to various areas like blue
economy, healthcare, climate action, and sustainable development. The aim is to
leverage science and technology to bridge disparities between urban and rural
areas, with a specific focus on developing affordable technologies.
While highlighting the remarkable progress in India and
ASEAN relations, which have grown into a multi-dimensional partnership in
recent years, Dr Gokhale emphasized the significance of using science and
technology to positively impact the lives of people, enhance human capacity and
excellence, and contribute to the knowledge economy of both countries.
Chair of the ASEAN COSTI and Permanent Secretary of
Ministry of Transport and Infocommunications of Brunei Darussalam, Mohammad
Nazri Mohammad Yusof said that India is the only dialogue partner allocating
exclusive development fund for ASEAN-India S&T cooperation which has
resulted in several research and capacity building initiatives.
Several DST officials attended the meeting that took
place in the year of the 30th anniversary of ASEAN-India relations which was
celebrated with a focus on the Indo-Pacific region, elevating the partnership
to a comprehensive strategic partnership and envisioning a broader vision for
the future.
During the meeting, the ongoing joint cooperation
initiatives between ASEAN and India were discussed. The commitment to
furthering cooperation in science, technology, and innovation between India and
ASEAN reflects a shared vision to address pressing challenges and drive growth
and development in the region.