Astana, September 26, House of Mazhilis. Today, Asian Inter-parliamentary forum on science, technologies and innovations has started its work in Astana under the chairmanship of Nurlan Nigmatulin, Speaker of the Mazhilis.

Parliamentarians and experts from more than 20 countries as well as representatives of several international organizations will discuss the relevant themes of scientific and technical area, incl. the legislative support. 

Organizers of the forum, which is held in our country for the first time, are the Mazhilis of the Parliament of Kazakhstan together with Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) and Islamic Development Bank (IDB).

In his address to the forum’s participants, Nurlan Nigmatulin, Chairman of the Mazhilis, noted the symbolism of such a significant event on the eve of the 25th anniversary of Independence of Kazakhstan. By the Speaker of the Mazhilis, the President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev has been paying special attention to cooperation with Asian countries, including the Islamic world countries, from the first days of independence.

- As you know, the President of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Abishevich Nazarbayev specially noted in his speech at the 70^th session of the General Assembly of the UN, that Asian countries had a great influence on the world economic development. In this connection, our parliaments undertake great responsibility for strengthening and further development of cooperation between Asian countries, - N. Nigmatulin said.

According to the Speaker of the Mazhilis, currently great achievements are reached with the Islamic community countries in strengthening of stability and security in the region, in development of education, science and Islamic culture.

N. Nigmatulin underlined the readiness of our country to cooperate with the world countries in the field of new technologies and innovative science development.  

At the legislative level, the innovative policy in our country is supported by such laws as “On state support of industrial and innovative activities”, “On science”, “On commercialization of the results of scientific activity”.

- In this connection, the proposal of the Head of our state to hold the Summit of Organization of Islamic Cooperation on science and technologies next year in Astana is very significant, - N. Nigmatulin said.

During the Asian Inter-parliamentary forum, special attention will be paid to the upcoming exhibition EXPO-2017. By N. Nigmatulin, the theme of the exhibition “Future Energy” has become the main direction for further sustainable development, as the whole world chooses the path of developing new and environmentally friendly technologies.

Abdulaziz Othman Al-Tueydzhri, General Director of ISESCO submitted his video message to the forum’s participants. “I would like to emphasis the role of Kazakhstan headed by the President Nursultan Nazarbayev in resolving important regional and international issues. It is important to work not only in science and technologies, but also in the field of legislation, which ensures science and innovations development. And this is the basis for any community development”, - he said in his video message.  

Shaukat Hamid Khan, General Coordinator of the Standing Committee of Organization of Islamic Cooperation on scientific and technical cooperation, who presented his speech at the plenary session of the forum, also noted the importance of science, technologies and innovations development, and in his opinion, it is necessary to develop incentives for scientists and to involve women in such work.

And Seyed Mohammad Javad Aptahi, MP’s of Iran, underlined the great importance, attached by Kazakhstan and the Head of our state for science and technologies development. By the Parliamentarian, “Nazarbayev University” is one of the symbols of measures implemented by the government.

Omri Hayet, MP’s of Tunis Republic expressed its confidence that discussion of such relevant issues in Astana at such high level has become possible due to the policy of the President of Kazakhstan. 

Having informed the attendees on financial support of scientific and educational programs in different fields, Aminuddin Mat Arif, representative of IBD, drew attention to the integrated approach of financial institute to scientific and innovative field. According to financial analyst, IBD plays an active role on exchange of scientific achievements, technologies between the countries in order to develop economy based on knowledge.

                Work of Asian Inter-parliamentary forum in Astana is organized within seven thematic sessions.

During the first day of the forum, the participants discussed general policy in the field of science, technologies and innovations. Special attention is paid to formation of the legal basis for educational and scientific field development during globalization period, the roles of parliamentarians and the ways of their interaction with national institutes in implementation of national programs and priorities. Scientific and technical measurements in production sector were discussed.

Parliamentarians, representatives of state authorities, scientists and experts from Azerbaijan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Comoro Islands, Malaysia, Pakistan, Republic of the Gambia, Republic of Mali, Sudan etc. shared their experience.

At the forum, ISESCO presented its investigation based on the best examples of the regulatory legal basis and stimulating measures in the field of science, technologies and innovations in the states within and outside OIC.

                ISESCO acts as an active partner in organization of parliamentary forums together with UNESCO mainly in order to strengthen the role of parliamentary science committees or commissions in efficient implementation of scientific and technical policy and in building cooperation between different components of innovative system, and in attraction and concentration of more resources for scientific development promotion.