Rokiah Mahmud
The Ministry of Transport and Infocommunications (MTIC) is hosting the 83rd Meeting of the ASEAN Committee on Science, Technology, and Innovation (COSTI-83) at the Songket Ballroom of The Rizqun International Hotel.
Permanent Secretary at the MTIC Ir Haji Mohammad Nazri bin Haji Mohammad Yusof, in his capacity as the National COSTI Chair for Brunei Darussalam, emphasised the importance of enhancing the coordination of COSTI and improving access to and utilisation of the STI funds.
The results of COSTI-83 meeting will be reported to the 12th Informal Meeting of Ministers of Science, Technology and Innovation tomorrow at The Empire Brunei. Delegations from ASEAN member countries and the ASEAN Secretariat are attending the meeting, which ends today.
ASEAN COSTI meeting is a sectoral body under ASEAN that is responsible for all aspects of cooperation and integration of science, technology, and innovation among ASEAN member states.
Key matters discussed during COSTI-83 include the status of the ASEAN Science, Technology, and Innovation Fund (ASTIF), the development of the ASEAN Plan of Action on Science, Technology, and Innovation (APASTI) for 2026-2035, outcomes and proposals from the COSTI Retreat Report, implementation of the COSTI Annual Priority Projects for 2022, endorsement of COSTI Annual Priority Projects for 2023, and proposals for the 2024 COSTI Annual Priority Projects.
Additionally, an agreement was reached on the scheduling and arrangement of the 84th COSTI meeting, which will be hosted by the Philippines.
Following COSTI-83, the 12th ASEAN-Japan Committee on Science and Technology Cooperation (AJCCST-12) was held and will be chaired by the permanent secretary of the MTIC and Director for International Cooperation at the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan, Hara Masashi.
Among the planned discussions is an exchange of opinions on initiatives and cooperation strategies in the future.
Prior to COSTI-83, a COSTI Retreat session took place on June 19, with the participation of delegations from ASEAN member countries and the ASEAN Secretariat.
The retreat discussed the effectiveness and direction of the ASEAN STI governance structure, funding mechanisms, and STI focus areas in preparation for COSTI meeting.
