Issued by: SA Communication Service
OFFICIAL VISIT TO INDIA BY A SOUTH AFRICAN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DELEGATION LED BY MR WR JARDINE, DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AFTS, CULTURE, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY.
Scientific relations between South Africa and India has been strengthened following an official visit to India by a 11 member Science and Technology delegation led by Mr WR Jardine, Director-General of the Department of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology (DACST). The purpose of the visit, which took place between 21 - 25 October 1996, was to identify areas of cooperation in the fields of science and technology in pursuance of the Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement signed between India and South Africa in July 1995.
Institutions represented in the South African delegation included the Foundation for Research Development (FRD), the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), the Council for Geo Science, the Medical Research Council (MRC), and the Universities of Durban, Zululand, Natal, Cape Town and Free State.
In order to identify possible areas of cooperation in S&T, the delegation was divided into three groups, each visiting various S&T institutes in the cities of New Delhi, Hyderabad and Bangalore. In New Delhi, Mr Jardine visited the National Institute of Science, Technology and Development Studies (NISTADS) and also paid a courtesy call on India's Minister of Science and Technology, Dr YK Alagh.
The following areas of cooperation were identified:
- Agricultural and Rural Development - Basic and Fundamental Sciences, viz. Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Astrophysics, etc. - Biotechnology - Earth, Marine and Atmospheric Science - Energy, including Renewable Energy Sources - Food Science & Technology and Food Processing - Health - Information science and Software Development - Manufacturing Technology and Engineering Sciences - Micro-electronics and Communications - Mineral Technology and Material Science - Popularisation of Science - Science and Technology Policy Studies
On Friday, 25 October 1996 a meeting of the Indo-South African Joint Sub-Committee on Science and Technology took place, co-chaired by Director-General Jardine and his Indian counterpart, Secretary VS Ramamurthy. The South African and Indian delegates expressed support for joint scientific projects based on mutual interest which would be developed jointly by S&T institutions in both countries. In order to realise joint scientific projects based on the above-mentioned areas of cooperation, a `Programme of Cooperation in the fields of Science and Technology' was agreed upon. South Africa's High Commissioner to India, Mr Jerry Matsila also participated in the deliberations.
As Mr Jardine also holds the portfolio of Arts and Culture, he also used the opportunity to hold talks on strengthening cultural ties between South Africa and India. In this regard meetings were held with the Secretary of Culture, Mr BP Singh, the Director-General of the Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR), Ms Meara Shankar, the Secretary of Tourism, Dr G Sundaram and the Development Commissioner for Handicrafts, Mr BL Sharma. Specific aspects raised by Mr Jardine included film cooperation between the two countries, India's experience in developing and marketing its handicraft sector and the manner India promotes cultural tourism.
ISSUED BY THE SOUTH AFRICAN HIGH COMMISSION, NEW DELHI, INDIA 25 OCTOBER 1996