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Background
The ESCWA Consultative Committee on Scientific and Technological
Development and Technological Innovation (ESTIC) was established
in 2001, pursuant to the Resolution 225 adopted by the Economic
and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) during its
twenty-first ministerial session (10-11 May 2001), and then
ratified by the United Nations Economic and Social Council.
The Committee should be formed of distinguished experts in
science, technology and innovation (STI), and should meet at
least once every two years with the following main duties: (a)
advising on member country endeavours to acquire modern
technology including the need for support, with particular
reference to information and communications technology (ICT),
biotechnology and new materials technology, (b) proposing ways
to promote regional cooperation for the transfer, adaptation and
mastery of technology, (c) advising on priorities related to
ESCWA work programmes in the fields of developing scientific and
technological capabilities and technological innovation; and (d)
following-up on international and regional resolutions relating
to STI and their implementation in member countries.
The ICT Division of ESCWA was mandated to provide substantive
servicing to the Committee, according to the Secretary-General
Bulletin dated 27 December 2002 (ST/SGB/2002/16) that
established the organizational structure of ESCWA.
Since its establishment, six meetings of the Committee were
held, in 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010 and 2012. The 2002 meeting
focused on the uses of new technologies, including ICT, for
poverty reduction and employment creation. The 2004 meeting
addressed building the information society in the Arab region.
The 2006 and 2008 meetings addressed the subject of the
establishment of the ESCWA Technology Centre (ETC) for
Development, and reviewed the ICT Division work progress and
programme. The 2010 meeting reviewed the progress of work and
future strategies for maximizing the benefits of ICTs in the
development processes, and featured a special session on
technologies and climate change. The 2012 meeting reviewed work
progress and the establishment of the ETC, and addressed
selected thematic topics and advisory services to ESCWA member
countries. Both 2010 and 2012 meetings featured the launching of
the biennial publication "Regional Profile of Information
Society in Western Asia".
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