African Ministers for Science and Technology re-affirmed their commitment to promote the integration of science, technology and innovation into their national development plans at the end of a four-day ministerial conference in Dakar, according to Ghana News Agency Sunday.

They held that this would bolster the continent's poverty reductions strategy and related frame works towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by the year 2015.

The ministers noted that science, technology and innovation were critical to the realization of the MDGs and the implementation of the Plan of Implementation adopted at the World Summit on Sustainable Development.

The conference, organized by the African Union (AU) and the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) brought together African ministers responsible for Science and Technology and their experts to consider Africa's Science and Technology Consolidated Plan of Action and approve elements of its implementation mechanisms.

The ministers agreed to rededicate themselves to reviewing, where necessary their national science, technology and innovation policies as well as other related arrangements and asked the AU to provide the overall policy and political leadership required in achieving the goals set in the Africa's Science and Technology Consolidated Plan of Action.

The conference adopted the action plan taking into consideration the important roles science, technology and innovation played in achieving Africa's common aspirations articulated in the NEPAD and the Constitutive Act of the AU.

The Ministers reaffirmed their countries' commitment in making voluntary and earmarked financial contributions to ensure that programs and projects were effectively and efficiently implemented.

Source: Xinhua