The Academia - Industry - Government Roundtable (AIGR); a newly established semi-autonomous organisation in the province signed a memorandum of understanding with Fincon Services Inc; a Canada based private business concern in the presence of NWFP Governor, Owais Ahmed Ghani at Governor's House, here on Friday.
The MoU aims at to identify market driven opportunities; support research and development and innovation activities; identify resources and facilities; set up business, innovation and technology linkages; support value chain development and management and support commercialisation of ideas from research and development to business planning and product development to marketing; facilitate knowledge management and identify potential projects in Fata and NWFP and help each other in developing them.
Zahid Arif, Chairman, AIGR and Shahid Yousuf of Fincon signed the MoU on behalf of their respective organisations. Speaking on the occasion, the Governor who is the patron of AIGR appreciated the initiative of the AIGR and the role of provincial Science and Information Technology Department in making all this possible. The department, he added, is entrusted with a very important responsibility and we are confident that it would come up to the expectations.
In fact, he remarked, the previous Century was the period of quantity while this is the time of quality, based on technological advancement and we have to focus on this field for our survival. Therefore, the Governor said, the academia; the researchers and the industrialists have to play an important role in achieving the desired goal. He assured every possible support on behalf of the government in tapping and developing the potential resources in best interests of the people.
Aurangzeb, Provincial Secretary, Science and Technology and Information Technology Department while highlighting the role and services of the department said that promotion of knowledge based economy is their focal point and with this aim in mind, efforts are under way to facilitate knowledge creation and encourage its application. He assured fullest possible co-operation to the AIGR for materialisation of the objectives.
Zahid Arif, in his address mentioned the achievements of the AIGR and said, "it has progressed, since its inception in a matchless way in the country. He thanked the Governor for his keen interest in ensuring proper working of the organisation.
Referring to the focal areas of the AIGR, he said, research studies in hydel power generation is one of the top most sectors in this respect. The ceremony was also attended by Chief Executive of Fata Development Authority, Attaullah, Director, Science and Technology and Information Technology, Khalid Khan, office-bearers of AIGR and representatives of Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry.