ISLAMABAD: The Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South (COMSATS) and the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to complement each other for Science Advocacy and Development.
According to a press release issued here on Friday, Executive Director COMSATS, Ambassador Dr. M. Nafees Zakaria, and Director General ISSI, Ambassador Sohail Mahmood, signed the agreement at COMSATS Secretariat.
COMSATS is an intergovernmental organization of 27 member developing nations, committed to advancing scientific research, innovations and technologies for sustainable development. ISSI is an autonomous think tank of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs devoted to providing in-depth understanding and objective analyses of regional and international strategic issues impacting global peace and security.
The MoU will promote collaboration for activities such as scientific research, professional exchange and capacity building, studies and publications, sharing of knowledge and experiences, science diplomacy, regional and international cooperation.
Ambassadors and diplomats, heads and representatives of COMSATS’ partner organizations, as well as senior officers of COMSATS and ISSI, witnessed the signing ceremony.
Ambassador Sohail Mahmood on the occasion deliberated on ISSI’s commitment to expanding partnerships and outreach to specialized institutions. He added COMSATS is one such organization focused at S&T for development. He highlighted ISSI’s vision of next-generation programs that concentrate on youth-inclusive dialogue and research.
Ambassador Zakaria in his remarks expressed the unflinching commitment of COMSATS to pass on the benefits of contemporary technologies to its Member States and said that COMSATS aspires to benefit from the strengths of ISSI with an objective of promoting intra-South reliance and cooperation.
He highlighted some of the recent programs of COMSATS in the emerging fields of science and technology. He termed the MoU signing as the beginning of the mutually beneficial collaboration between COMSATS and ISSI.
