'South Korea to support Science & Technology Ministry'

South Korea has showed its willingness to provide both technical and managerial support to the Ministry of Science and Technology. This was stated by Ambassador of South Korea to Pakistan Choong Joo Choi in a meeting with Federal Minister for Science and technology, Azam Khan Swati held here on Monday, says a press release.
Pakistan and South Korea have a Scientific and Technological Co-operation agreement signed at Seoul since May 9, 1985 but it was highlighted that it is not active for quite a long time ie since 2000. However, it covers many areas of bilateral co-operation in the field of science and technology like training of scientists, exchange of scientific data, and joint research on the subjects of common interest, it was learnt. Moreover, four executive Protocols were successfully implemented until 2000.
The federal minister expressed the desire to share Korean experience of economic growth through simulating innovation in Science and technology and reforming science based institutions. Other proposals for the mutual co-operation in the field of Science were to increase the exchange of students and also institutional linkages to extend programmes of industry-university collaboration. While Joint Research and development Projects in specific disciplines of mutual interests can also be launched successfully, he added.
Swati also invited Choong Joo Choi to deliver a speech and have an interaction with the students of National University of Science and Technology and Comsats Institute of Information Technology.
The Korean ambassador said that Korea recognises the significance of Pakistan in the region and is ready to play a role in the development and prosperity of this country. He promised to consider all the proposals and emphasised that such meetings should be continued so as to find out co-operation areas of mutual interest. At the end, it was proposed that a high level Science and Technology committee would be formed with two Co-Chairmen, one from each side, to consider and approve Executive Protocol and monitor implementation of programme of co-operation on regular basis. The meeting was also attended by Federal Secretary Irfan Nadeem, alongwith other officials of the Ministry and Scientific and Technical advisers were also present.