Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary
of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA)
at the Arab Forum on Applied Nanoscience and Nanotechnology
Mr. Muhannad Shehadeh, Jordanian Minister of State for Investment Affairs,
Mr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh, Chairperson of the Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Organization,
Mr. Adel al-Saqer, Director General of the Arab Industrial Development and Mining Organization,
Ms. Sally Hassan Khattab, representative of the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization,
Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Dear colleagues,
I am pleased to be here with you in Amman on the occasion of the Arab Forum on Applied Nanoscience and Nanotechnology. This forum, organized by the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) in cooperation with your organizations, and under the kind patronage of Mr. Shehadeh, the Minister of State for Investment Affairs in Jordan, is being held to support implementation of the Arab initiative on rolling out nanoscience and nanotechnology in the Arab region, and to encourage debate on related investment and development issues.
We are gathered today with full confidence in the potential of modern and emerging technologies to foster sustainable development. Indeed, these technologies promise effective scientific solutions across the spectrum of economic, social and environmental concerns addressed by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and for the problems and challenges facing our region, particularly with regard to energy, water and food security.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Against a backdrop of conflicts, wars and emerging crises, and decades of occupation, the Arab region today is confronting tremendous challenges that threaten its hard-won development gains. It is therefore incumbent on us, today more than ever, to intensify our efforts to secure decent work and living standards for the people of our region.
Our countries, and regional and international partners, must take advantage of the technology revolution by adopting and carrying out economic and social policies founded on science, and fostering an environment conducive to the creation of fruitful public-private partnerships. Such partnerships can help to harness scientific and technological knowledge, research findings and green technology transfer, and to embrace at the national level all that can contribute to strengthening the vital sectors of water, energy and food production, as well as climate change mitigation and adaptation.
We at ESCWA, through the responsibilities invested in us as a regional commission of the United Nations, strive to assist member States in implementing the 2030 Agenda and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), most of which coincide with the region’s priorities. In that regard, ESCWA has set up a dedicated unit to coordinate the work of its various divisions and respond to the requests of member countries for support in implementing the Agenda. We are currently running projects in a number of countries to address the consequences of conflict, in the hope that they will soon come to an end, so that reconstruction and sustainable development might begin. At this point, we must redouble efforts at the international, regional and national levels to secure the considerable financial and human resources, intellectual capital, scientific research and technology that are indispensable, and to support innovation and the exchange of expertise.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Over the past 10 years, we have witnessed a positive transition to nanoscience and nanotechnology in research, education and industry, according to the UNESCO Science Report: Towards 2030. Some Arab countries have made progress in this field. Saudi Arabia, for instance, ranked 49th on the Global Innovation Index of 2016 and 16th worldwide in terms of the number of nanotechnology innovations, while Egypt ranked 107th on the Index and 25th worldwide in terms of publications related to nanoscience and nanotechnology, with 7,000 research papers.
A number of Arab countries have shown a keen interest in supporting nanotechnology research and development initiatives mainly related to securing energy, water and food resources in the framework of their national economic development plans. In 2008, the Center of Nanotechnology was founded in Saudi Arabia, and in 2009, the first nanotechnology centre in North Africa was established in Egypt. It is imperative to build on local experience to launch productive projects with added value and an environmental dimension that will contribute to the achievement of the SDGs, particularly with regard to the water-energy-food security nexus.
Ladies and gentlemen,
In conclusion, I would like to thank all the participants in this forum, the city of Amman for its warm hospitality and generous sponsorship, our co-organizing partners and all who have contributed to the preparation and organization of this event. I wish you all success in meeting its objectives, to enable our region to leverage the available scientific and technological potential in constructive partnerships that will benefit societies and individuals.
May peace be upon you.