African countries must streamline science and technology into their national and sectoral plans if the continent is to develop, a recent joint statement reads.

The statement was issued by United Nations Industrial Development Organistion (UNIDO), the African Union Commission (AUC), and the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) was issued on World Industrial Day.

The authors stressed that science and technology institutions need to be revitalised, promoted and popularised.

And also a national system of innovation should be devised as a way of integrating science, technology and innovation in developmental plans.

The statement presented by Emmanuel Kalenzi, head of UNIDO operations in Rwanda, and prepared for the Rwanda’s African Industrialisation Day celebrations under the theme, "Investing in people is investing in the future,” called for African countries to take a closer look at their relevant strategies and to streamline science and technology into their national and sectoral plans and strategies.

Just like in the South East Asian region, there is a need to mobilise these ingredients to meet its development challenges and make progress.

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