Zim to host NAM technical meeting

ZIMBABWE will this month host the second Non-Aligned Movement Science and Technology technical meeting on industrial biotechnology to promote value addition and beneficiation among member states.

The technical meeting will be held from August 22 – 24 in the capital, Harare.

The theme of the technical meeting is: “Driving Value Addition and Beneficiation.

Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development permanent secretary Prof Francis Gudyanga said recently that the technical meeting was expected to set the tone and shape the implementation of the new NAM agenda to promote value addition and beneficiation through the transfer and application of biotechnology.

“We are pleased to host the technical meeting here. It’s a testimony of the recognition that Zimbabwe enjoys when it comes to south -south co-operation,” he said. “As a country we are spearheading biotechnology industrialisation. We are committed to promoting leadership in this field.

“Our scientists will interact with some of the best experts in the field of biotechnology in the world.”

More than 40 technical experts drawn from within the NAM member grouping will gather here to promote the sharing of best practices in the field of industrial biotechnology to spur value addition and beneficiation.

Zimbabwe won the bid to host the second NAM S& T technical meeting on industrial biotechnology in August 2017.

The Centre for Science and Technology of Non-Aligned and other developing countries (NAM S & T Centre) in collaboration with the Zimbabwe Government and the National Biotechnology Authority of Zimbabwe are organising the meeting.

The three-day meeting will aim to also strengthen networking and collaboration in the field of biotechnology to enhance technology transfer and business opportunities.