ISLAMABAD: The representatives of the member states of the Economic Cooperation
Organization (ECO) held the third meeting of the Board of Trustees of the ECO Science
Foundation and reiterate firm commitment and desire to continue their devoted efforts to
make the ECOSF more active, efficient and a result-oriented specialized agency.
The third meeting of the representatives of the member states of ECO including Afghanistan,
Azerbaijan Iran, Kazakhstan, Pakistan and Tajikistan held in Islamabad under the chair of
Mr. Fazal Abbas Maken the Federal Secretary, Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST).
The member states of the ECO express satisfaction over the holding of the 3rd BoT Meeting
of ECOSF; commend the initiatives andamp; programmes begun and the role andamp; status gained by
ECOSF in the comity of scientific and technological organizations and forums worldwide.
They also lauded the ECOSF IBSE programme for capacity building on delivering quality
science education based on the concept of “inquiry” or critical thinking which is vital in
training the minds for understanding the world, through improving Science literacy leading to
sustainable development;
The representatives of the member states of the ECO also appreciated the ECOSF for
providing travel grant to the scientists, engineers and technologists of ECO member states to
participate in International Sandamp;T Conferences/Workshops;
“We appreciate for successfully organizing the Meeting/Conference of Eminent
Scientists/Experts of ECO Member States to prioritize the focus areas of research for funding
under its Sandamp;T Fund; developing collaboration with Sandamp;T institutions of the member states for
organizing scientific activities; continuously tapping various international sources for
expansion of ECOSF collaboration particularly, the MoUs signed with The Turkic World
Educational and Scientific Cooperation Organization (TWESCO), Kazakhstan and LAMAP
Foundation of France”, says the statement.
They also emphasized the ECOSF to establish a framework of cooperation to explore
opportunities to enhance exchange of scientists, technologists and engineers for participation
in Sandamp;T activities; strengthen collaborations among Randamp;D organizations andamp; universities.
Similarly they also emphasized the ECOSF to focus on capacity-building of the scientific
and technical human resource with emphasis on youth engagement, foster their talent to
increase their innovation capacity by equipping more people with the skills required to
contribute to innovation, and by inspiring young people to enter innovation-related
occupations in the region.
The meeting urged the ECOSF to pursue collaborative programs, with relevant organizations,
to address the priority issues of transfer of technology, Global Warming, Climate Change,
Energy, Environment, Water Harvesting andamp; Conservation and Reuse, Biodiversity
Conservation, Food Security, which are all essential for attaining the UN Sustainable
Development Goals (SDG).
They also call upon all the ratifying member states to make their budgetary contributions
timely for smooth running of the Foundation. Also invite the Member States to make
generous voluntary contributions to the andquot Science and Technology Fundandquot of the Foundation
for initiating joint collaborative research projects in priority areas.
The member states also agreed to the need for ECOSF to organize and plan various Regional
Conferences on Sandamp;T with the assistance of ECO Secretariat, member states and its
international partners and collaborators including UN agencies.