President ECOSF calls upon the Secretary General of ECO in Tehran - December 14, 2015
Go Back
During the 26th Meeting of Regional Planning Council (RPC), President ECOSF Prof. Dr.
Manzoor Hussain Soomro called upon the new Secretary General of Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) H.E. Ambassador Halil Ibrahim Akça on December 14, 2015 in his office at the ECO Secretariat, in Tehran- Iran. Prof. Soomro briefly introduced ECOSF and its functioning as well as its high forums to the Secretary General by highlighting the historical development up to establishment of the Foundation. President ECOSF sought special assistance of H.E. Halil Ibrahim Akça for the completion of the process of ratification by Turkey. The Secretary General was also apprised about the status of ECOSF Charter ratification and budgetary contributions by the member states.
President Soomro also apprised the Secretary General that ECOSF has signed three MoUs with Ev-K2-CNR Foundation of Italy, ISTIC Malaysia and Asian Innovation Forum and also developed collaboration with International organizations i.e., UNESCO, European Union, Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), Inter Academy of Partnership Science Education Prorgramme (IAP-SEP). The collaboration with International Organizations has enabled ECOSF to nominate/send scientists of ECO countries to various international scientific forums.
During the meeting, it was brought in the knowledge of the Secretary General that ECOSF has launched Inquiry Based Science Education (IBSE) in ECO region and 1st Capacity Building Workshop on IBSE was jointly organized by ECOSF and Science Committee of Ministry of Education and Science (MES) of Republic of Kazakhstan in June, 2015 in collaboration with La main a la pate Foundation France, Islamic Development Bank (IDB), the International Science, Technology and Innovation Center for South–South Cooperation under the auspices of UNESCO (ISTIC) Kuala Lumpur and the Inter-Academy Partnership (IAP) Science Education Programme (SEP). In 2016, four more capacity building workshops are expected to be organized in Pakistan, Iran, other two countries; possibly Turkey and Azerbaijan. President ECOSF also shared with Secretary General of ECO that a meeting of Eminent Scientists/Experts of ECO Member States is to be held on 28-30 December 2015 in Islamabad-Pakistan to priorities the focus areas for research funding under S&T Fund of ECOSF.
Secretary General H.E. Mr. Halil Ibrahim Akça took keen interest in the activities of the Foundation and highly appreciated the progress of the Foundation and assured of his full support to the Foundation. The Secretary General also appreciated the contribution/inputs of Prof. Soomro for the ECO Vision–2025. H.E. Halil Ibrahim shared his career assignments and past experiences with the President ECOSF. He also advised that research projects be initiated by ECOSF. In the response, President ECOSF said that the S&T Fund of the Foundation has been established; however, the funds from the member states are yet to come through.