Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Transport and Infocommunications Ir Haji Mohammad Nazri bin Haji Mohammad Yusof emphasised the importance of active engagement and open discussion among ASEAN member countries.
As the Chairman of ASEAN Committee on Science, Technology and Innovation (COSTI) this year, Ir Haji Mohammad Nazri also said the US has become an invaluable partner in advancing science, technology and innovation in the ASEAN region, while attending the 11th meeting of ASEAN-US Consultation on Science and Technology (AUSCST-11) in Washington DC, United States (US) on October 30.
Among the matters discussed during the meeting were the development of the latest science, technology and innovation policies and the updating of the policies of ASEAN and the US, in exploring the alignment of cooperation activities and also future cooperation opportunities. Also discussed were the challenges in the rapid pace of the industry as well as partnerships in dealing with these issues collectively and in line with the ASEAN Action Plan on Science, Technology and Innovation (APASTI) 2026-2035 currently under development.
Ir Haji Mohammad Nazri and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Science, Technology and Space Affairs, Bureau of Ocean Affairs , Environmental and Scientific (OES), US Rahima Kandahari co-chaired the AUSCST-11. National Chairman of COSTI of ASEAN member states as well as representatives from the agencies and embassies of the ASEAN member states attended the meeting.
On the second day after the conference, delegations from ASEAN member countries made a working visit to the Chesapeake Farm to observe and explore the sustainability and green chemistry initiatives of the Corteva Agriscience Company including the US EPA Reduced Risk Pesticide Programme and Gene Editing with CRISPR- Cas9 technology.
Joint initiatives such as the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) – ASEAN-US Science Prize for Women, Women in STEM Webinar Series, AI Guideline and Policy Brief: Strengthening ASEAN Women’s Participation in STEM have had beneficial effects for members of ASEAN countries.
With support from the US, this has shaped the science and technology landscape and strengthened collaborative efforts to benefit not only the ASEAN region but also the global community.
