The United Nations Technology Bank has agreed to set up a regional centre for Science, Technology and Innovation in Zambia at the cost of US$30 million.
Higher Education Minister Dr Brian Mushimba says the decision to allow Zambia to host the regional centre of excellence for the SADC region was reached at during a two days Science, technology and innovation consultative meeting held in Antananarivo, Madagascar.
He said the UNTB, which was represented by its Managing Director for Least Developed Countries Joshua Setipa indicated that the project would be completed within 12 months once construction was commenced.
Dr. Mushimba told the Zambian Mission in Pretoria, which has extra accreditation to the Republic of Madagascar that the establishment of the center in Zambia will help the country build capacities around science, technology and innovation as well as engineering and mathematics.
He said a Memorandum of Understanding was expected to be signed during the ground breaking ceremony to be held in Lusaka soon.
Dr. Mushimba said the regional centre of excellence would help the region attain its 2030 agenda for sustainable development.
He was accompanied to Madagascar by the leadership of Zambia Academy of Sciences led by Professor Kavwanga Yambayamba and some Ministry staff in charge of science and technology
This is according to a statement issued to the Media by First Secretary Press and Public Relations at the Zambia High Commission Pretoria South Africa Naomi Nyawali
Zambia Academy of Sciences 🙂
Must be another early April f.ools joke
Are you sure Mr. Mushimba you will be able to sustain that when even the few industries available are being load shed. It is madness to increase your budget while squeezing your revenue streams.
Good move Doc. We need such organisations within Zambia if we have an industrialisation agenda and be serious with it
This will be great opportunity for Zambia. Center of excellence means people from around Zambia will be coming to study. Zambians will comprise a good percentage of the trainees and participants. The University of Zambia will have a competing international training facility.