Afghanistan and China expands cooperation in ICT sector
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A high ranking delegation led by deputy technology minister of MCIT Mr. Aimal Marjan along with spokesman of the ministry Mr. Mohammad Yasin Samim, the director of Technology and Innovation Mr. Wais Payab and the technical advisor for Planning and Policy Directorate, Mr. Husain Bakhsh Mirzad participated the 2nd Forum on China-South Asia Technology Transfer and Collaborative Innovation at Kunming, Yunnan Province of People Republic of China.
- China and South Asia’s import and export International Exhibition
On June 12th 2016, the MCIT Delegation and the Afghan ambassador Mr. Janan Mosazai representing Afghan government attended the opening ceremony of the Fourth International Trade Exhibition and Fair of China-South Asian Countries.
In addition to China’s Senior officials including deputy PM of the country, China’s economic sector Officials, the ruler of Yunnan province and representatives of academic institutions, a great number of dignities in the sought Asian countries including vice presidents, ministers of economic sectors, heads of research and academic institutions and other 800 individual representing private sector from various countries attended the conference. In this conference, speakers mainly focused on importance of mutual trade between the countries, measures taken and future oriented strategies.
2nd Forum on China-South Asia Technology Transfer and Collaborative Innovation:
Hosted by the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST), the 2nd Forum on China-South Asia Technology Transfer and Collaborative Innovation was held during 12-24 simultaneously with the mentioned import and export exhibition of china and South-Asian countries.
- Ministers’ speeches, speech of deputy IT minister of MCIT Mr. Aemal Marjan:
The session was held in Kunming City and focused on the theme “Collaborative Innovation for Common Development of the Countries” aimed at increasing cooperation in the field of science and technology, identifying practical mechanism of the regional cooperation. The meeting was attended by officials from ministry of science and technology of China, representatives of academic institutions and ICT companies and researchers from regional countries in order to share achievements and challenges in a common platform at three levels (High level official talks, B2B meeting and interaction and bilateral official visits.
The conference began with the opening remarks of Yunnan’s provincial governor. Thanking the participants he said that this regional forum which was held for the first time in 2015 with the participation of ministries of ICTs from South Asian countries in China is a strategic and fundamental step toward bilateral and multilateral cooperation. Continuity and commitment of participant countries will help us institutionalize synergy, creativity and innovation in the field of science and technology, speed up economic growth, and expand science and technological researches and to realize public and private partnership.
Then, Mr. Yin Hee Joon the China’s Deputy Minister for Science and Technology (MOST) elaborated on the importance of strengthening cooperation in science and technology. He explained: “Today the development is getting more and more dependent to innovation. In fact, entrepreneurship and innovation has become a universal value. Thus, based on China’s strategic plan, by 2020 China we will spend 2.6% of our GDP on research and innovation both in and outside the country.”
Following the conference, the Deputy IT minister of MCIT Mr. Aimal Marjan delivered his speech and thanked the organizers of the exhibition (CSO-Expo). Mr. Marjan briefed the conference about the status quo of ICT in Afghanistan. He added: “As it turns out, based on several factors Afghanistan joined the international community later than the regional countries but nevertheless, our people quickly paved the long way and now we have joined global information society, in general, we are in right direction.”
With a short reference to the major challenges and opportunities of the ICT sector, Mr. Marjan added:” During the last one and a half decades, the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology of Afghanistan has made substantial achievements in all areas including institution building, capacity building, incorporating technology in government affairs and public services. Naturally, international community has important role in this development.
In terms of vision and programs of national unity government regarding the partnership of private and public ICT sector Mr. Marjan emphasized: “In our view, without entrepreneurship and innovation the development of ICT is impossible. And thus, we are committed for facilitating public-private partnership in the field of infrastructure and services. Taking advantage of this unique opportunity, I would like to call on private sector partners including China to come to Afghanistan and invest in ICT sector. Afghanistan is a country with the largest population of young generation which has extraordinary capacity for entrepreneurship and economic growth in the field of ICT.”
Focusing on geo-economic and geo-strategic location of Afghanistan Mr. Marjan illustrated: “We can play critical role in connecting South Asian countries and China with Central Asian countries. Hence, the meeting is of a key importance for member countries.”
In the end he emphasized that, creating the China-South Asia Technology Transfer and Collaborative Innovation Center, the ministry of Science and Technology of China, our friendly country and our colleague has taken very important step in the development of research and innovation in the field of ICT. He expressed that: I am sure that with the signing of the agreement between Afghanistan and the Center and implementation of its provisions more opportunities will be provided for young generation of Afghanistan.
Technical Discuss Sessions:
Following the speeches of ministers, chiefs of technology and innovations of participating countries, including Afghanistan, China, Maldives, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Vietnam, India, relating ICT development and existing challenges, director of Technology and Innovation of MCIT of Afghanistan Mr. Wais Payab also spoke in this conference.
Briefly explaining the achievement of MCIT in Afghanistan he emphasized impact of IT on social and economic growth of the counties. He added: that IT is common in all other sectors, and fortunately, in Afghanistan ICT has an extraordinary capacity for economic and development and job creation.
Mr. Payab said: that ministry of Communications and Information Technology of Afghanistan has focused not only on services, but has taken essential steps in line to regulations and policies, and development of ICT infrastructures. Today more than 5 communication, 40 internet and dozens of IT companies operate in Afghanistan, as a result of it, more than 89% citizens have access to mobile services and 10% of citizens have access to internet services, he said.
Looking at comparison, Mr. Payab said: that As a result of efforts of MCIT including extending of National Optical Fiber Network, internet prices reduced from $3000 in 2004 to 60$ in 2016.
At the end of his speech, Mr. Payab stressed that having a developing strategy is essential for growth of every country and fortunately, Technology and Innovation Directorate MCIT in Afghanistan has begun preparatory work on science and technology development policy and it will be finalized in next 6 months.
At the end of the first day meeting, a memorandum of cooperation was signed by Mr. Payab and chief of the Center.
Formal bilateral meeting:
After signing cooperation agreement between Afghanistan and China, delegation of MCIT along with Afghan ambassador to China met with deputy science and technology minister of China Mr. Yin Hi Jun.
Initially, Mr. Yin Hi Jun while acknowledging Afghan delegation for participation, introduced the members of his board.
He said: that Afghanistan and China are strategic and good neighbor countries. Over the two past year relations between the two countries deepened. He added that: in September 2014, the president of China had outlined creation of the Center in India and the Center was inaugurated with presence of minister of Communications and Technology of Afghanistan and other countries in 2015.
Subsequently, Deputy IT minister of MCIT Mr. Aemal Marjan mentioned that: signing the agreement with (CSTTC) could open new horizon of cooperation to focus on technical aspects.
In purpose to cooperate in research and innovation we could consider IT, agriculture, medical sciences, and energy sector.
After hearing Mr. Marjan’s speech, Chinese deputy Communication minister mentioned that Afghanistan is in the state of reconstruction and we will not withhold any of cooperation. He added: leadership of National Unity Government of Afghanistan and senior officials of China have reached consensus on strategic cooperation, and we as the executive departments of the both government must make the process more robust and stable.
At the end of bilateral meeting, Mr. Janan Mosazai Afghan ambassador to China also thanked the ministry of Communications of China and mentioned: that in recent visit of Afghan Chief Executive Officer Doctor Abdullah Abdullah discussed various issues including Optical Fiber and Satellite. He said: in my view today’s agreement is a further milestone in cooperation between China and Afghanistan and as ambassador to Afghanistan it is my duty very seriously to keep track the issue with my host country.
4 visits: afghan delegation visits solar energy producing center in Echlin
The afternoon of 13th June 2016 delegation of MCIT visited the first center of solar energy in Echlin area. The generator has been established in one and a half km space with a capital of 150 million dollars, according to official information the Center produces 60 megawatts power monthly.
Afghan delegation also visited the Center for research and innovation and raised technical questions on how to set up similar center in Afghanistan. Afghan delegation noted that it will share all details of solar power generation with competent authorities of Afghan government.
The delegation also visited Afghanistan Exhibition Center, and talked with representatives of ministry of commerce and private sector visiting the exhibition.