ECOSF begins interaction with Business Communities of ECO Region Isfahan Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (ICCIMA) agrees to develop cooperation with ECOSF in areas of mutual interests

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A meeting between President ECOSF Prof. Dr. Manzoor Hussain Soomro and Vice President of Isfahan Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (ICCIMA), Mr. Mostafa Ronasi was held at ICCIMA on 9 January 2017. The meeting was facilitated by Prof. Seyed Komail Tayebi, Director of International Scientific Cooperation, University of Isfahan and the Executive Director elect of ECOSF.

The Vice President ICCIMA warmly welcomed President ECOSF for the maiden visit to ICCIMA. He said that ICCIMA is quite active in scientific activities and has strong relations with University of Isfahan. It was shared that ICCIMA gives a significant importance to the training of Executives, partners and employees of their companies for creating knowledge based economy. The international relations is another priority area of interest of the Chamber through which new linkages are developed. Social activities are also supported and promoted by the Chamber.

 President ECOSF appreciated the efforts being made by the Chamber for their role in the economy of Isfahan and Iran. Prof. Soomro shared the objectives and programmes of the Foundation. He also mentioned that an ECOSF is funding R&D on priority areas and promoting Inquiry Based Science Education (IBSE) in ECO region, and in this context, different programmes have been initiated including capacity building of teachers as master trainers. He further informed the Vice President ICCIMA that the first Capacity Building Workshop on IBSE for Iran is jointly being organized by ECOSF, University of Isfahan Iran,  La main a la pate Foundation France, Ministry of Education & Ministry of Science Research and Technology of Iran, Inter Academy Partnership – Science Education Program (IAP-SEP) and International Science, Technology and Innovation Centre (ISTIC) Malaysia from 8-13January 2016 at University of Isfahan. President ECOSF explained the IBSE approach and said that this approach has been adopted by various countries of World. He also invited the Chamber to be part of the programme and support in promoting the IBSE in Iran by supporting the establishment of an IBSE Centre. President ECOSF also offered that the Foundation will support to the collaboration of ICCIMA with the other Chambers of the ECO region and a first meeting of ICCIMA can be facilitated with the Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Islamabad. ECOSF would also try to facilitate interaction of ICCIMA with the CCIs in Germany; where the CCIs are funding IBSE for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects at schools possibly in March 2017.

During the meeting following points were agreed upon:

1. Isfahan Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (ICCIMA) will make efforts to support the IBSE programme of Isfahan University under the patronage and guidance of ECOSF.
2. University of Isfahan will support ICCIMA for developing a training programme of ICCIMAhuman resource.
3. ECOSF will write to the Leadership of German IBSE Programme and relevant organizations for possible cooperation of ICCIMAwith German CCIson IBSE and other business matters.
4. ECOSF will facilitate and nurture cooperation of ICCIMA with ECO CCI and Pakistan CCI in Islamabad.
5. ECOSF, ICCIMA and University of Isfahan will jointly make an effort to organize a conference of CCIs of ECO member states in Isfahan, in collaboration with ECO-CCI

At the end, President ECOSF presentedPakistan’s traditional “Shawl” to Mr. Ronasi which was reciprocated with a traditional Iranian “Minakari” plate.