President Ranil Wickremesinghe, in his speech at the Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the G77 and China in Havana, Cuba, on Friday, emphasised the crucial role science, technology and innovation play in overcoming the current development challenges faced by developing nations worldwide.

President Wickremesinghe began his speech by commending Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez for convening the Summit and acknowledging Cuba’s historic role as a champion of the aspirations of developing nations at various multilateral forums.

Wickremesinghe noted the unprecedented challenges confronting the global South, including the pandemic, climate change, food, fertiliser and energy crises, which threaten the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and exacerbate the global debt crisis.

President Wickremesinghe delved into the historical perspective of technological development, highlighting how Europe’s advancements in the 15th century, such as gunpowder, cannon and ocean-going ships had enabled it to conquer other parts of the world, resulting in the technological divide seen today. He underscored that a new technological divide is

emerging in the 21st century, necessitating the adoption of digitalisation and new technologies such as Big Data, IoT, AI, Blockchain, Biotechnology and genome sequencing to bridge the gap.The President emphasised the importance of an educated labour force well equipped with knowledge and technological know-how essential for the smooth flow of the much-needed transformation of the developing nations.

The President outlined his government’s initiatives including the evaluation of underperforming Science and Technology Research Institutes and the establishment of a Technology and Innovation Council and a Digital Transformation Agency. Additionally, Sri Lanka plans to create four new universities specializing in new technologies, with one being the result of technological cooperation between India and Sri Lanka. The International Climate University will be the 05th.

Addressing the digital divide, President Wickremesinghe cited challenges such as limited access to costly technology, insufficient digital skills and infrastructure, cultural and institutional barriers and financing constraints. He called for effective cooperation mechanisms within the G77 and China, including the revitalization of the Consortium of Science & Technology & Innovation for the South (COSTIS) and the commitment of member countries to earmark 1% of their GDP for R&D over a decade.

President Wickremesinghe stressed the importance of collaboration between governments and the private sector and proposed creating technological platforms in fields like digitalization, health, medication, AI and renewable energy including green hydrogen, inspired by the European Union’s Technology & Innovation Platforms.

The brain drain from the South to the North and the resulting loss of educated manpower is another threat to the development of Science Technology and Innovation of the South, President Wickremesinghe said, adding that China, India, Japan and South Korea have developed Science Technology and Innovation by nurturing their manpower. “Therefore, we must ask for compensation from the North for the loss of our manpower,” he added.

He also urged increased South-South cooperation and proposed a scheme akin to the Colombo Plan to enhance collaboration, exchange best practices and develop policies that harness the transformational potential of science, technology and innovation.

In conclusion, President Wickremesinghe reaffirmed Sri Lanka’s commitment to supporting the new Havana Declaration and called for the collective voice of G77 and China to be heard in international fora.The President’s address underscored the significance of science, technology and innovation in shaping the future of developing nations, making it a pivotal moment at the G77 and China Summit.