As part of promoting the African science agenda, Minister of Science and Technology Naledi Pandor today visited the Non-Aligned Movement(NAM) Science and Technology (NAM S&T Centre)in New Delhi, India.

The Minister is in the country attending BRICS meetings.The Minister met with the centre’s Director-General, Prof Arun Kulshreshtha and toured the facility.

The NAM S&T Centrepromotes various activities in the fields of science and technology in order to strengthen cooperation among non-aligned and other developing countries.

More than a 100 South African scientists have already participated in the centre’s scientific activities such as conferences, fellowships and training programmes.

In line with these activities, the Department of Science and Technology (DST) is hosting a three- month NAM S&T fellowship scheme on Minerals Processing and Beneficiation at MINTEK, which will come to an end in 2017.  The fellowship is meant to build beneficiation capacity within the member states. So far 33 people, including researchers and government officials from 24 member states, are participating in the fellowship.

South Africa ratified the NAM S&T Centre statutes in December 2005, granting the country participation in the NAM S&T governing structures such as council meetings and activities like training courses, international research collaborations and internships in different scientific fields.