Fostering Knowledge and Innovation for Development in a Globalized World: Regional Perspectives

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Fostering Knowledge and Innovation for
Development in a Globalized WorldRegional
Perspectives

• PROMOTING AN ENABLING ENVIRONMENT TO FOSTER
  KNOWLEDGE AND INNOVATION FOR DEVELOPMENT
• Mervat Tellawy
• Executive Secretary
• UNESCWA

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The ESCWA Region

• A strategic position between Europe, Africa and
  Asia
• Bordering major sea lanes
• Considerable resources of energy
• Reservoir of a young population
• 38 lt 15 yr
• (about 73.5 million)

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The ESCWA Region

• A major crossroads and a melting pot of ideas
• Rich in history and culture
• Ibn Hayan (chemistry),
• Al-Khawarizmi (algebra/algorithm),
• Ibn-Sina (medicine)

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Regional Facts Institutes of Higher Learning

• In 2003 the number of institutes of higher
  learning in the Arab countries
• Universities (112)
• Colleges (113)
• RD institutes (131)
• Source The world of learning. 2003. Europa publ.

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2002 Arab graduates
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Selected ICT indicators 2003-2005
Fixed telephone lines in operation per 100 Fixed telephone lines in operation per 100 Cellular mobile subscribers per 100 Cellular mobile subscribers per 100 Personal computers per 100 Personal computers per 100 Internet users per 100 Internet users per 100
  2003 2005 2003 2005 2003 2005 2003 2005
Bahrain 26.54 27.05 57.90 103.04 17.71 16.90 27.96 21.34
Egypt 12.72 14.04 8.45 18.41 2.91 3.78 4.37 6.75
Iraq 2.78 4.00 0.09 2.22 0.79 ... 0.18 0.14
Jordan 11.75 11.36 23.58 28.93 4.47 5.34 8.62 11.22
Kuwait 19.79 18.99 82.09 88.57 16.26 22.33 23.05 26.05
Lebanon 18.14 27.68 27.14 27.68 10.00 11.45 15.00 19.57
Oman 9.02 10.33 22.83 51.94 4.27 4.66 6.73 9.67
Palestine 8.72 9.43 13.26 29.57 3.87 4.59 4.01 6.56
Qatar 26.36 26.41 51.14 92.15 17.71 17.88 18.00 28.16
Saudi Arabia 14.47 15.46 29.91 54.12 13.67 35.39 6.20 6.62
Syria 13.54 15.24 2.36 15.49 2.81 4.20 3.48 5.78
United Arab Emirates 28.40 27.51 66.25 100.86 16.82 19.84 27.75 31.08
Yemen 3.40 3.85 3.61 9.54 0.82 1.45 0.69 0.87
ESCWA Average 11.09 12.36 12.81 24.30 4.66 8.131 4.81 6.48
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Foreign Direct Investment
2003 2004 Growth rate
ESCWA countries 4 525 7 859 73.7
Arab countries 9 775 12 219 25.0
World 632 599 648 146 2.5
Developing countries 166 337 233 227 40.2
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Regional Volatility

• The ESCWA region continues to suffer from
  conflicts and instability
• ? LAGGING BEHIND IN TERMS OF DEVELOPMENT,
  ACQUISITION AND DISSEMINATION OF KNOWLEDGE

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Why..?

• Unable to tap into the knowledge credited with
  the generation of economic growth
• The engine of STI has been insufficient
• Social, political and economic environment wanting

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Thrust of an Effective Enabling Environment

• Promote STI
• Encourage investment
• Invest in youth
• Foster the entrepreneurial spirit
• Nurture partnerships

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ESCWAs response regionally

• As a follow-up to Phases 1 2 of WSIS
• Development of a Regional Plan of Action for
  Building the Information Society (RPoA) in
  Western Asia
• In recognition of the role of science and
  technology in accelerating development
• Establishing ESCWA Technology Centre which aims
  to
• Promote better STI policies
• Disseminate knowledge and raise awareness on STI
• Invest in capacity building
• Encourage partnerships and entrepreneurship

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ESCWAs response sub-regionally

• Smart Community Project
• Targets grass-roots
• Provides community access to technology
• Promotes networking and knowledge sharing
• Encourages enterprise support schemes

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• Thank you