On 16 May 2003, the EU released Euro 50.7 million
towards enhancing the capabilities for research in
sustainable development in the seventy-nine poorest
countries, African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP), group of
states. Minister Ngubane played a leading role in
highlighting the plight of research in the ACP towards the
upliftment of these countries. The release of these funds
has been highly welcomed by the ACP states through their
representatives in Brussels, recognising the critical role
played by South Africa.
Welcoming this news Minister Ngubane said that this was
the exciting culmination of the Cape Town Declaration. He
added "The collective resolve of the ACP ministers
responsible for research, science and technology to
enhance their capacity for research in order to address
impediments to sustainable development is now to be
realised in concrete activities."
Following a meeting of the Forum on Research for
Sustainable Development on the fringe of the World Summit
on Sustainable Development (WSSD), the Cape Town
Declaration on Research for Sustainable Development was
released on 28 July 2002. This Declaration recognised that
without substantial assistance to ACP countries,
sustainable development would be severely impeded in such
countries as these: particularly in areas of human
resource development, health, HIV/AIDS, environment, water
and sanitation, energy and transport and agriculture.
To harness the research capability a strong emphasis on
regional integration and cooperation of policy makers and
research institutes was placed to address common
developmental challenges. It further stressed the need to
allocate funds for research activities through the use of
inter alia the 9th European Development Fund (EDF)
and the EU's 6th Framework Programme.
Minister Ben Ngubane, Minister of Arts, Culture,
Science and Technology, has pledged South Africa's full
commitment to supporting the ACP in its efforts to harness
the immense potential of Science and Technology on
instruments for development. "We look forward to
growing from strength to strength in the scientific and
technological capacity of the ACP states, with the support
of our valuable partner, the European Union", he
said.
Issued by the South African Embassy to Belgium and
Luxembourg and Mission to the European Communities
For more information, please contact First Secretary
Ms. Suhayfa Ebrahim Zia, Head of Media and Communication.
Brussels, 20 May 2003
