Welcome to the First Meeting of Ministers and High Authorities of Science and Technology within the Framework of CIDI
Lima, Peru - November 10-12, 2004

The First Hemispheric Meeting of Ministers and High Authorities on Science and Technology within the Framework of CIDI was held in Lima, Peru on November 11-12, 2004. It discussed the role of science, technology, engineering, and innovation on the economic, social, cultural and scientific development within the Member States. It also discussed its great impact in the job creation for confronting poverty and strengthening democratic governments, which will be the topics of the next Summit of High Authorities and Governments of the Americas that will take place in 2005.

As part of the preparatory process, the first preparatory meeting took place in Washington D.C. in June 23-24 with the participation of twenty one Member States with the goal of preparing draft proposals for the declaration and plan of action. The second preparatory meeting was held on September 22-23 of 2004 in order to discuss the topics to be covered at the Ministerial Agenda including the declaration and plan of action, hemispheric initiatives, young scientists awards and civil society dialogue. In addition, the IADB and ECLAC will be sponsoring a meeting for a dialogue with Economic Ministers and High Authorities that was held November 10 in Lima, Peru to show the importance of science, technology, and engineering in the economic and social context for increasing the competitiveness of the productive sector.

"Considering that the last Meeting of Ministers and High Officials of Science and Technology within the Inter-American framework was held in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, in March 1996, it is imperative for the hemisphere to have a ministerial meeting in which not only the status of the hemispheric priorities in science and technology developed by the ministers in Cartagena can be revised, but that the new needs of the region be identified and developed, particularly given the increasing economic and commercial integration that our continent is going through. It is extremely important that the Plan of Action and the Declaration of Lima include the new priorities, and elevate the ministerial proposals to the highest political officials within the Western Hemisphere."

Alice Abreu
Director
Office of Education, Science and Technology
Organization of American States