OEA/Ser.G CE/GCI-124/97
6 November 1997
Original: English

SUPPORT OF THE SUMMIT OF THE AMERICAS
BY THE OFFICE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY / OAS
(Document presented by the Office of Science and Technology)

ORGANIZACION DE LOS ESTADOS AMERICANOS
ORGANIZA��O DOS ESTADOS AMERICANOS
ORGANISATION DES ETATS AMERICAINS
ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES
17th Street and Constitution Avenue N.W. Washington, D.C. 20006

November 4, 1997

Excellency:

I have the honor to address Your Excellency to transmit as per your request, the summary of follow-up activities as established in the Declaration of Principles and Plan of Action emanated from the Summit of the Americas, which took place in Miami, Florida, in December of 1996.

Accept, Excellency, the renewed assurances of my highest consideration.

Sitoo Mukerji, Ph.D.
Director
Office of Science and Technology

His Excellency
Ambassador Carlos Portales Cifuentes
Permanent Representative of Chile
to the Organization of American States
Washington, D.C.

SUPPORT OF THE SUMMIT OF THE AMERICAS
BY THE OFFICE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY / OAS

The Plan of Action emanated from the Summit of the Americas in Miami, declared that the OAS will have a key role in following up on the various decisions of this Summit Meeting. In relation to the mandate for science and technology in the Plan of Action, the Office of Science and Technology has supported the following activities that appear in the Document "Declaration of Principles and Plan of Action", Summit of the Americas- December/94.

II.11. Hemispheric Infrastructure

"Development in this Hemisphere depends on urgent infrastructure measures, including the priority allocation of financial resources, in accordance with national legislation and with the participation of both the public and private sectors. Strengthening the flow of private productive capital to economically and environmental sound projects that become increasingly vital to countries through the Hemisphere as the growth of official sources of capital has failed to keep pace with areas’ needs."

II.12. Energy Cooperation

"Cooperation to promote capital investment and to foster the use of innovative financial mechanisms to increase investment in the energy sector and the enhancement of efficiency in the use of energy and non-conventional renewable energy, in accordance with each country’s legislation and developmental needs." "Promotion of the use of efficient and non-polluting energy technologies, both conventional and renewable, leading to a higher degree of knowledge and technical expertise in this area."

Action

Regional Round Table on Energy Efficiency, Jamaica.

Results

The round table is encouraging the rational use of oil and partial substitution of renewable energy. The round table provides a forum for interchange of knowledge in the region. (The Americas and the Caribbean)

II.13. Telecommunications and Information Infrastructure

Action

Hemisphere Wide Inter- University Scientific and Technological Information Network Project (RedHUCyT)

Results

RedHUCyT has supported the connection to Internet of many member countries and has facilitated technical assistance and equipment to most of the member countries.

II. 14. Cooperation in Science and Technology

"Convene a meeting of ministers responsible for science and technology in the Hemisphere within the next year to assess progress and to promote the Bolivar Program and the OAS Common Market of Scientific and Technological knowledge (MERCOCYT) program, to provide the necessary support to improve scientific partnerships and technological ventures in the region, and to explores the possibility of establishing a council on science and technology"

Action

Meeting of Ministers of Science and Technology , Cartagena, Colombia, March, 1996.

Results

The Ministers recommended that MERCOCYT (the technical secretariat of which is located at the OST) continues to encourage the scientific institutions of the OAS member states to combine their capacity and efforts and to establish cooperation ties among international agencies, inter-American partnerships of academic and technical institutions, and the productive sector.

From the Meeting of Ministers came out the called "Cartagena Declaration and a Plan of Action". The political support for MERCOCYT is stated by the member states but the financing support is not clear yet. However, the OST has organized some activities as a follow up to the Hemispheric Meeting of Ministers for Science and Technology which were related to the following: a) Technical Innovation, Competitiveness and International Trade; b) Information and Communication Technologies; c) Clean Technologies and Hemispheric Cooperation for a more sustainable development; and the role of Science and Technology in Social Development. The participants showed great interest in technical cooperation.

Action

Support the development of indicators of science, technology and innovation , such those being developed by the Science and Technology Indicators Project of the OST.

Results

This Regional Project has facilitated the development of a regional methodology to collect and analyze statistical data regarding science and technology indicators which are being use to establish policies in favor of the integral development of the region.

Action

The Inter-American System of Metrology, Standardization, Accreditation and Quality

The Inter-American Metrology System was revitalized. Technicians from the countries are visiting the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The mentioned action is helping the Free Trade Area of the Americas, located at the OAS.

Action

The OAS/GTZ Quality Management Project in Small and Medium Enterprises

Results

This Regional Project has supported more than 1,000 industrial plants in 12 countries which have already improved the quality of the commercialized products.

Action

Inter-American Program for Environment Technology Cooperation in Key Industry Sectors

Results