News Straits Times Press, 31 August 2006

Asean to share expertise at summit

KUALA LUMPUR: Asean has been chosen as the partner for the Indian Technology Summit and Technology Platform (TSTP) to be held in New Delhi on Nov 6 and 7.

India’s Science, Technology and Earth Sciences Minister Kapil Sibal said the summit would be a platform for Asean countries to share their knowledge and expertise in science and technology.

"We have indicated that countries must showcase their latest technologies. The summit would also be an opportunity to conduct bilateral talks on the sidelines," he said.

This is the 12th TSTP. Previous partners have included Russia, Canada and Germany.

Sibal also announced the setting up of the Asian Biotechnology Conference which would meet for the first time in November next year.

Modelled after the annual Global Biotechnology Conference, Sibal said the 10 Asean countries, plus six — China, Japan, Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand — would be invited to discuss the biotechnology industry in the region.

"The first annual Asian Biotechnology Conference would be held in New Delhi and we would then rotate it among the 10 (Asean) plus six," he said.

Sibal was in Malaysia to attend the two-day 4th Informal Asean Ministerial Meeting on Science and Technology in Kuantan, which ended on Tuesday. Food and energy security, disaster management, nanotechnology and health issues were discussed. Next year’s informal meeting would be held in Myanmar.