The Zambian government and the Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad, on Saturday signed an agreement for the transfer of technology, skill development and knowledge-sharing.
This was announced at a presser where the Zambian government was represented by its Higher Education Minister Nkandu Luo and IICT by its Director S. Chandrasekhar.
“We will be partnering with Zambia to make healthcare affordable in that country. Skill development and transfer of technology are other areas where we are looking at with interest. We can also learn from the traditional medicine system of Zambia,” said Mr. Chandrasekhar.
It was IICT that was among the first institutions that re-engineered the AZT molecule and ushered in cheaper treatment for Human Immunodeficiency Virus.
Organic farming
“I had a short tour of the facility here, and I am impressed. We would like to develop processes for organic farming, pheromone technology and other important areas of research. We were left defenceless when the armyworm attacked our crops. We want to be better prepared,” said Ms. Luo.
“Zambia needs to learn a lot. We need to look at the work culture and commitment to improving the lives of our people. This partnership will hopefully allow us to reach the next stage of development,” said Ms. Luo.
The financial implications of the partnership were not disclosed.
