JEDDAH - The Second Islamic Summit on Science and Technology affirmed its commitment to the principles and objectives stipulated in the Charter of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, particularly the promotion and development of science and technology.

This came in the final statement issued at the end of the summit, which was held today, Wednesday, Dhul-Qa’dah 6, 1442 AH, corresponding to June 16, 2021 AD “virtually” under the slogan “Science, Technology and Innovation Opening New Horizons” under the presidency of the United Arab Emirates.

The statement reviewed the implementation of the OIC Science, Technology and Innovation Program and affirmed the commitment to take all necessary measures and reforms to create an enabling environment for the advancement of science, technology and innovation in the OIC Member States.

The statement stressed the importance of increasing links between the member states of the organization and regional and international links to enhance institutional capacities and human resource development in member states, and to benefit from technological advances and innovation to achieve sustainable development for their peoples.

The final statement endorsed the Kazakhstan government’s proposal to hold the first session of the Senior Officials Committee in 2022 and the meeting of the “Islamic Group-15” ministers on education, science and technology, and the commitment of the OIC General Secretariat and COMSTECH to start the preparatory work in coordination with the relevant OIC member states.

He praised the proactive measures taken by the member states of the organization to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic, and their initiatives to respond to the situation and address the effects of the crisis in the health, economic, educational, financial, social and humanitarian fields, and the efforts of all health workers on the front lines.

The final statement called on the OIC General Secretariat to coordinate with Member States and relevant OIC institutions and international partners to make the necessary arrangements to activate and update the OIC Health Portal with the aim of establishing an institutional mechanism consisting of national experts and policy makers in related fields, with the aim of strengthening the capacities of public health institutions in Member States. Preparedness to anticipate health emergencies.

The statement urged the encouragement of innovation and the development of local industries in the field of medicines and vaccines, as well as preventive measures and treatments for infectious and non-communicable diseases, in accordance with applicable international laws and standards, and in a manner that ensures adherence to the ethics and integrity of scientific research, especially during pandemics, strengthening technical cooperation, and capacity building programs In producing and supplying vaccines, medicines and medical devices and regulating them effectively to provide better health and well-being to its people.

He stressed the need to provide education for all and the need to update skills and vocational training for youth and invest in their development and provide decent work opportunities for all, and to enhance communication and links between universities within the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and with leading international universities to establish research partnerships and exchange knowledge, and to enhance cooperation and partnerships within the framework of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to increase academic interaction The exchange of knowledge between academic institutions through the provision of scholarships, and the exchange of students, faculty and researchers.

The statement of the Second Islamic Summit on Science and Technology addressed the issue of promoting agriculture, rural development and sustainable food security in the OIC Member States by encouraging the use of science, technology and innovation to meet the challenges of lack of mechanization and agricultural tools, water scarcity, and lack of modern irrigation systems. Calling for increased public and private investment in research, innovation, and development in the development of new farming techniques and the use of advanced information technology to share the latest innovations in agriculture and food supply chain management.

The final statement of the summit promised water use efficiency, improved water infrastructure, access to clean, safe and affordable drinking water and adequate sanitation services, as important to improving living standards and human health, and providing social well-being for all, stressing the importance of strengthening cooperation among Member States to implement the vision of the Organization Islamic water cooperation, cooperation in exchanging knowledge and experiences, expanding the use of modern technologies and developing institutional capacities to deal with water-related challenges in the member states of the organization.

The statement urged member states to take the necessary steps to create, develop and disseminate new technologies by strengthening the information and communication technology infrastructure, building human resources capacities to master new skills, facilitating affordable internet access and digital communications, and recommending the cooperation of member states to set standards for advanced technologies. and Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies to improve supply chain operations, reduce digital barriers, improve efficiency and productivity, and facilitate trade.

The closing statement of the summit welcomed the participation of member states in Expo 2020 Dubai to be held in 2021, which will be organized on the theme “Connecting Minds: Creating the Future”, which is the first global exhibition of “Expo” to be held in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia region; Encouraging them to participate to benefit from the unique platform of Expo 2020 Dubai as the most influential global incubator for new ideas and technologies to build partnerships and drive progress, thus building a strong social and economic legacy.

The Final Statement of the Second Islamic Summit on Science and Technology expressed its appreciation for the role of the General Secretariat, COMSTECH and other relevant OIC institutions in coordinating and implementing the OIC Science, Technology and Innovation Program-2026, calling on COMSTECH to convene a high-level meeting comprising Member States and all relevant OIC institutions and bodies with the aim of Evaluate the progress made in implementing programs and activities, in order to achieve the approved goals and objectives of the programme.