German Embassy pledges support for COMSATS’ Accra Forum

ISLAMABAD:   (Parliament Times)   The Embassy of Germany is being engaged for some major initiatives of the Commission on
Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South (COMSATS), including the
organization’s upcoming high-profile Accra Forum on Science and Technology for Sustainable
Development to be held in Ghana in April 2020.
Discussions on this and other matters of international importance were made in Islamabad during
a meeting between, Ambassador of Germany to Pakistan, Bernhard Schlagheck who called on
the Executive Director COMSATS, Dr. S. M. Junaid Zaidi, and his team at COMSATS
Secretariat. The meeting was aimed at building cooperation with Germany for seeking patronage
and broadening COMSATS’ international activities within the backdrop of triangular
cooperation and United Nations 2030 Global Agenda.
Germany Ambassador was briefed about COMSATS’ S&T-related engagements with different
institutions and state-owned scientific departments in its Member States. Mr. Schlagheck was
also apprised of COMSATS’ initiatives in the field of health, ICTs, higher education and climate
change as well as recent engagements with international bodies such as UNOSSC and
Commonwealth.
The German Ambassador expressed keen interest in COMSATS’ grand initiative, the Accra
Forum on S&T for Sustainable Development. He deemed it a good platform for multilateral
cooperation towards achievement of United Nations Global Goals and identification of key needs
of the developing countries, especially those from Africa. Mr. Schlagheck lauded COMSATS for
its innovative approach to bring about sustainable development in the Global South. He strongly
supported the idea of Germany’s participation at the Accra Forum and pledged to convey the
message to his Government for campaigning and active participation of Germany in the said
Forum.
The meeting ended with a pledge of mutual support for multilateral and triangular cooperation.