Staff Reporter
VICE President Nangolo Mbumba said that Namibia, like the rest of the developing world, recognises the need to invest more in science, technology, and innovation to fast-track development.
“Namibia will continue to support collective and multilateral efforts towards leveraging Science, Technology and Innovation to transform food systems on the African continent and the world with a clear purpose to enhance and promote sustainable agriculture and food production,” he added.
He made these remarks at the G77+China Summit, which recently took place in Cuba. The summit was held under the theme “Current development Challenges: Role of Science, Technology, and Innovation”.
During the summit, the vice president underscored that science, technology, and innovation present a unique opportunity to support and encourage the growth and utilisation of these fields across all aspects of our society, ultimately driving socio-economic advancement.
He emphasised that Namibia faces ongoing challenges in the realms of social, economic, environmental, and developmental issues, all of which demand scientific insights and technical expertise. This, he said, includes climate change, biodiversity loss, water scarcity, drought, and food insecurity.
“In this regard, Namibia is in her third year of implementing the Namibia National Science, Technology and Innovation Policy (NSTIP) (2020-2030), under the theme: ‘Harnessing Knowledge and Innovation for Sustainable Development’,” he added.
Complementing the Namibia National Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy, the vice president said, the country has revised and approved the Namibia Space Science and Technology Policy, and established the National Commission for Research, Science, and Technology (NCRST), as a vehicle to facilitate funding and coordination of research and the building of infrastructure.
“As we continue to coordinate our national capabilities with the aim to enhance resilience in tackling numerous complexities in the 20th century; may we be inspired to continue strengthening capacity to accelerate scientific and technological utilization for sustainable development,” he added.
