Diplomatist Magazine Diplomatist August 2018 | Page 22

Science & Technology:
The New Frontier of
Bilateral Cooperation
between India and Saudi
Arabia
By Manoj Srivastava*
Science & Technology
A decade ago, during former Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to
Riyadh in 2010, the Government of India,
represented by the Department of Science and
Technology (DST), Ministry of Science and
Technology, and the Government of Saudi
Arabia, represented by the King Abdulaziz
City for Science and Technology (KACST),
recalled the General Agreement signed
between the two governments for Economic
and Technical Cooperation on April 14, 1981
in New Delhi.
They recognised the importance of
science and technology in the development
of their national economies and in the
improvement of the socio-economic standard
of life in both countries, acknowledging
that the considering that the development of
scientifi c and technological relations shall be
of mutual benefi t to both countries.
Desirous of strengthening cooperation
between the two countries, particularly in
the fi elds of science and technology, both
countries agreed to promote and support
enhanced cooperation in these fi elds on the
basis of equality and mutual advantage. The
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agreed upon areas of cooperation include:
(a) Exchange of scientists, research
workers, technical experts and trainees;
(b) Exchange of scientifi c and technical
information and documentation;
(c) Organisation of bilateral scientifi c
and technical seminars, conferences and
workshops in areas of mutual interest; and
(d) Formulation and implementation of
joint research projects and development
programmes, and the exchange of knowledge
resulting from other modalities of cooperation
as agreed upon by both the nations.
For the purpose of implementation
of this Agreement, a Joint Committee on
Science and Technology, as part of the
Saudi-Indian Joint Commission composed of
representatives designated by the two nations,
was formed to plan, coordinate and monitor
cooperation in the field of science and
technology and facilitate the implementation
of joint programmes and projects.
Space Cooperation
A delegation of scientists from Saudi
Arabia visited India, after the above