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Signing Ceremony of the Mou on Scientific and Technological Cooperation Between S.A. and Indonesia

18 August 2005

On 22 August 2005 South Africa’s Minister of Science and Technology, Mr Mosibudi Mangena, and his counterpart in Indonesia Minister Kusmayanto Kadiman, will sign a Memorandum of Understanding on scientific and technological cooperation in Jakarta, Indonesia.

This follows a visit to Indonesia in April by President Thabo Mbeki where he met Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. The two leaders had expressed a desire to see their two countries forging stronger bilateral cooperation especially in the fields of Science and Technology, Trade and Industry, as well as Agriculture.

The MOU will facilitate the establishment of concrete mutual relationships by the respective science and technology communities in the creation of new knowledge and research networks, and the transfer of relevant technologies to strengthen the respective countries’ development.

Closer collaboration is envisaged in the fields of:

• Energy (renewable and alternative)
• Biotechnology (Human Biotech, new drugs and vaccines)
• Nuclear Technology
• Aerospace, Astronomy and Earth Observation
• Mining exploration
• Human Resource Development

Indonesia has the necessary capacity to assist South Africa in building expertise in these areas. They have well established institutions such as the Institute of Science (LIPI), Eijkman Molecular Biology Institutes, Centre for Research Science and Technology (PUSPIPTEK), Nuclear Energy Agency, National Institute of Aeronautics and Space and the National Research Council.

On the other hand, South Africa will bring to the relationship initiatives that include the Centres of Excellence, which focus on the development of human capital; the Meraka Open Source Centre, which is aimed at making information technology more accessible and affordable; our Science Councils like CSIR and NRF, which engage in both basic and applied research of a high order by world standards. Our country is also participating in a bid to host the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), an initiative that will attract the services of a greater number of scientists, technicians and artisans.

Contact: Nelvis Qekema
Ministerial Liaison Officer
Cell: 082 571 2571
E-mail: nelvis.qekema@dst.gov.za