UNIDO co-organizes LDC-IV Pre-Conference Event in Istanbul

From left: Dessie D. Dukamo, Minister of Science and Technology, Ethiopia; Hodhoaer Inzouddine, Minister of Posts and Telecommunication, Comoros; Fatou Haidara, Director of Policymaking Organs Secretariat (UNIDO); Mehmet Aydın, Minister of State, Turkey; Ambassador Lakshmi Puri, Director-UN-OHRLLS; and Nüket Yetis, President, Schientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey

On 7-8 February, UNIDO and the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK) organized a preparatory event in Istanbul preceding the 4th United Nations Conference on the LDCs due to take place in May later this year. The event – entitled “Science, Technology and Innovation (STI): Setting Priorities, Shaping and Implementing Policies for LDCs” – highlighted the importance of an effective STI approach for development and sustainable growth.

As one of the main speakers, UNIDO Policymaking Organs Secretariat Director, Ms. Fatou Haidara, argued that “despite the improvements in the last decade the LDCs are still behind international development goals in the areas of economy and social development as a result of the obstacles they face in gaining access to technology and information (as well as insufficient physical infrastructure)”. In this context, she emphasized the importance of science and technology for development and that progress in this area will break this vicious cycle. Chairman of the LDC group, H.E. Mr. Gyan Chandra Acharya, suggested the establishment of a separate fund for capacity-building and argued that the establishment of an international network will facilitate LDCs’ access to necessary technologies.

All the participants jointly declared that the sustainable development goals can better be realized for the LDCs through improvements within the fields of science and technology. The participants recommended the vital role of STI in removing barriers and promoting development for the LDCs to be recognized by the wider international community and furthermore treated as a separate agenda item at the forthcoming LDC Conference in May.

Senior officials from 48 LDCs and 71 representatives from different international organizations and universities participated in the event.

Go to Event pages: http://www.tubitak.gov.tr/LDCs