Business News

Science, technology key to economic transformation

 

Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MoEST) hsays countries that have embraced science and technology and channelled more resources to science-related projects have grown their economies, an official has said.

MoEST director of technical services Godfrey Kafere said in an interview on Wednesday that Malawi should take a similar path to grow its economy, which is dependent on rain-fed agriculture.

Officials appreciate some of the innovations at the fair

What comes to mind when technology-driven economies are brought into the fore are Japan and Asian tigers—Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan—which underwent rapid industrialisation and have maintained high growth rates in excess of seven percent, according to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), an intergovernmental economic organisation with 36 member countries.

Said Kafere: “I wish to state that the application of science and technology has tremendously transformed many economies the world over.

“This is the reason the government of Malawi is committed to the advancement of science and technology because we believe it is one of the ways we can transform our economy.”

He said the future of Malawi and that of the region is dependent on solid science and technology base.

“When you talk about access to communication, electricity, clean water, sanitation, food, transport and medicine, they all require advances in science and technology,” said Kafere.

To ensure that the country is committed to making science and technology part of the development agenda, government established the National Commission of Science and Technology (NCST) to spearhead all issues to do with science and technology.

“NCST plays an advisory role to government and other stakeholders on all science and technology matters in the country and their input is invaluable,” said Kafere.

NSCT director general Anthony Muyepa Phiri said they will continue to support efforts to enhance science and technology.

The two officials said this on the sidelines of a National Schools Science Fair at Kamuzu Academy in Kasungu.

Plant pathologist Joyce Njoloma said she was pleased that the notion that sciences are a difficult subject and only easy for males was clearly defied during the fair.

Ekwendeni Girls Secondary School emerged number one during the fair, after beating over 20 schools with their simple hand-washing product which reduces cholera.

Related Articles

Back to top button