Kenya: EAC, GTZ to Hold Conference on Technology Transfer
By George Okore
NAIROBI---The East African Community and German Development Cooperation through the EAC/GIZ Programme on East African Regional Integration will jointly conduct a High-level Policy Dialogue Conference on Industrialization Policy and Strategy and an Expert Meeting on Technology Transfer approaches in the East Africa Region.
The Conference takes place from May 2-3 May, 2011, followed by Expert meeting on Technology Transfer on May 4, 2011, at the Olesereni Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya. The objective of the conference is to provide a forum for engaging stakeholders from public and private sectors on the opportunities in and challenges of pursuing a regionally coordinated industrialization policy, strategy and programme.
At the conference, participants will be sensitized on the desirable elements of a regional industrial policy and the necessary institutional arrangements required in implementing the same at both regional and national levels. According to EAC Head of Department, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Richard Othieno- Owora, participants will include high level representatives from Partner States, including, Permanent Secretaries from the Ministries of East African Community Affairs, Senior Officials from the Ministries responsible for industry, representatives from National Assemblies, Industrial Research Institutes, Science and Technology Councils and CEOs from private sector organizations.
The East African Community is in the process of formulating its Industrialization Policy and Strategy, which is expected to provide a detailed regional framework for cooperation in the field of Industrial and SME development, as outlined in the Treaty for Establishing East Africa Community. The goal of cooperation in industrial development is to enable Partner States to collectively and individually attain accelerated, harmonious, and balanced development, as envisioned in the Treaty.
The draft EAC industrialization Strategy has identified several industries, which will be promoted through collective community efforts, so as to realize economies of scale and attain international competitiveness. The regional industries whose economic benefits extend beyond national boundaries identified include: pharmaceutical, automotive, agricultural machinery & tools, basic metal, petrochemicals, ICT & computer and SME development among others.
The conference is an important forum for obtaining views from stakeholders for incorporation into final EAC industrialization policy and strategy. The discussions will revolve around the current international state of play on New Industrial Policies, as well as on the content, processes, actors, tools, and political environment required for the EAC industrial process, while assessing challenges and opportunities of implementing regional industrialization programmes.
On the other hand, Expert Meeting on Technology Transfer aims to raise awareness on possible mechanisms to achieve technology transfer between research centres and industry, as well as to sensitize policy makers, Heads of science and technology councils and the private sector on possible approaches for collaboratively engaging in technology development and transfer.