Phl Embassy gives presentation on Challenges and Opportunities for ASEAN in Science & Technology
As Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Brasilia (ACB), Philippine Ambassador to Brazil Eva G. Betita, was invited to participate as opening speaker at the international forum on Asia and Oceania, hosted by the Conselho National de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico (CNPq) on August 13 at the CNPq Headquarters.
The event's objective was to stimulate socio-economic development through greater coordination in science, technology and innovation between Brazil's CNPq and international partners.
CNPq is an attached agency of the Ministry of Science and Technology (MCT), dedicated to the promotion of scientific and technological research, and to the formation of human resources for research in Brazil.
Director of Engineering, Exact Sciences, Humanities and Sociology Guilherme Melo Sales opened the event, saying that Brazil has much to learn from Asia in the field of science and technology. He also stressed the importance of closer relations between Brazil and Asian nations, citing the region's leadership in the registration of patents, education and professional qualification.
Ambassador Betita gave an overview on ASEAN and its three pillars, namely: the Political, Economic and Socio-Cultural Communities and how they support the grouping's quest to achieve unity. She also discussed the challenges and opportunities facing the regional grouping of ASEAN in the area of Science, Technology and Innovation (ST&I), the role of ST&I as ASEAN embarks on its quest to unify the region into one Economic Community by 2015, and highlighted ASEAN´s partnerships with Dialogue Partners to advance Science, Technology and Innovation in the region, and to make sure that inclusive growth is achieved for all of the ten Member-States.
Ambassadors and Heads of Mission from Australia, China, South Korea, Japan, Pakistan and Indonesia, also spoke about their countries' efforts to engage Brazil in Science and Technology.
Minister Maria Clara D. Carisio from the Ministry of External Relations´ Department of Asia and Oceania, Mr. Paulo Gustavo Franklin Abreu of EMBRAER, and Professors Lytton L. Guimarães and José Monserrat Filho discussed possible areas of cooperation and partnership with Brazil, namely: nanotechnology; biodiversity; alternative energy; agriculture; aquaculture; oil and gas; meteorology and oceans; natural resources management; climate; information technology; naval, space and aeronautic industries, and management and commerce.
The CNPq has arranged similar fora on Science and Technology with Europe, the Middle East and African regions. The event culminated in simple cocktails and exchange of views. END
