As part of the efforts to boost the Rwanda’s technology development, UN-Rwanda will tomorrow host a two-day conference to draw a roadmap for Rwanda to take advantage of science and technology to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. 

According to a UN statement released yesterday, "Rwanda’s ambition of becoming a modern and prosperous nation requires a transition to a knowledge society.”

"This will depend on the ability to harness scientific and technological knowledge in ways appropriate to the country’s culture.”

Aurélien Agbénonci, the UN Resident Coordinator, noted that each UN agency will be involved based on their area of expertise, adding that Science, Technology and innovation form the basis for all development activities.

"The UN Family in Rwanda is proud to partner with others to support these initiatives,” he said in a statement.

The UN is working under the concept that a knowledge-based economy prioritises the use of scientific knowledge for competitive economic advantage. And science is seen as both the key factor of new production and as a traded commodity-product in itself.

The Director General of Science, Technology and Research in the Ministry of Education, Dr. Marie Christine Gasingirwa, said that the conference will be a platform through which the importance of science and technology can be addressed.

"We hope to evaluate a plan of action and how it will be domesticated in the country,” she said.  

The meeting will bring together experts who will analyze the involvement of the UN in increasing the use of science, technology to attain sustainable development.

The initiative will also be supported by the Economic Commission for Africa and the Africa Union.

Ends