The government and its development partners have stepped up joint efforts to push for the development of science, technology and innovation in Laos in a move to drive national development.
Representatives from the relevant ministries and UNESCO met yesterday in Vientiane to raise awareness on UNESCO’s Global Observatory on Science, Technology and Innovation Policy Instrument.
In his opening remarks, Deputy Minister of Science and Technology, Mr Houmphanh Intharath spoke highly of the policy that supports science, technology and innovation development in various countries.
The deputy minister touched on the move in which Laos has been selected as the first country in the region to implement a pilot project under the policy to support the development of science, technology and innovation in the country.
During the two-day training workshop, participants shared lessons learnt concerning science, engineering, technology and innovation policies as well as instruments, research and development indicators on science, engineering, technology and innovation including those being implemented in Laos.
The move aims to contribute to the effort of defining policy, strategy and both the shorter and longer term development plans of the sector in order to contribute to the ambition to attain the sustainable development goals for 2030.
Mr Houmphanh informed the meeting that the Lao Ministry of Science and Technology has just concluded its 2nd Nationwide Meeting and the first Science Meeting last month, which adopted the draft strategy on science and technology development until 2025 and vision until 2030.
The five-year science and technology development plan 2016-2020 was also approved at the meeting.
“The plan has set both shorter and longer term targets in order to enable the science, technology and innovation sector to become an instrument to drive and realise the 8th national socio-economic development plan,” he told the meeting.
The Party and government of Laos has attached great importance to the development of science and technology, reflected by the fact that the development needs of the sector have been incorporated in the constitution, laws and resolutions of the Party Congress, the deputy minister said.
Given that a lot more work needs to be done to develop science and technology in Laos, Mr Houmphanh said the workshop would provide an opportunity for Lao policy developers to learn and share best practices with international experts so that the lessons could contribute to the development of the relevant policies in Laos.
Source: Vientiane Times
