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Fourth Regular Meeting of the Inter-American Committee on Science and Technology (COMCYT)

April 15-16, 2004

 

Representatives from thirty-two countries from the Americas approved draft proposals for common hemispheric policies and strategies applying science, technology, engineering and innovation for cultural and socio-economic development of nations at the Fourth Regular Meeting of the Inter-American Committee on Science and Technology “COMCYT” held at the OAS Headquarters in Washington D.C. on April15-16, 2004. The Committee unanimously recognized the importance and richness of the central themes and seventeen proposals derived from the four workshops previously held in Argentina, Ecuador, Brazil and Jamaica; and agreed that as science, technology, engineering and innovation are the engines of economic and social progress, to reaffirm the need to incorporate and foster them in the countries’ development plans and strategies. The representatives prepared a consolidated policy paper and program of action for the development of regional projects and new strategies to tackle poverty, and reconfirmed that regional integration and free trade in the Americas could not be successfully achieved without rapid strengthening of science, technology, engineering and innovation competence particularly in the countries that need the most.

The Committee elected Dr. Arnoldo Ventura of Jamaica as Chairman. Dr. Ventura, presently serves as Special Adviser to Jamaica’s Prime Minister on Science & Technology and is Chairman of the United Nations Commission on Science & Technology for Development.

Dr. Fernando Gutierrez of Costa Rica was elected First Vice-Chair. Dr. Gutierrez is the Minister of Science and Technology of Costa Rica.

Dr. Benjamin Marticorena of Peru was elected Second Vice-President. Dr. Marticorena is the President of CONCYTEC (Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnologia) of Peru.

The elected authorities of COMCYT and the Office of Science and Technology of the OAS will lead COMCYT to the First Hemispheric Meeting of Ministers and High Authorities on Science and Technology under the scope of CIDI (Inter-American Committee for Integral Development) to be held in Lima, Peru, November 11-12, 2004.

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Alice Abreu, Director of the Office of Science and Technology; Daniel Gonzales, Secretariat of Public Education of Mexico; Arnoldo Ventura, elected Chairman of COMCYT; Fernando Gutierrez, elected First Vice-Chair of COMCYT; and Gala Redington, Technical Secretary of COMCYT.

 
 

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