South-South cooperation urged to foster technology

NAIROBI - Technology transfer, skills development and sharing of best practices to spur innovations should form the basis of south-south cooperation.

UN experts urged developing countries to prioritize cooperation in the areas that advance technological progress and innovations to accelerate economic, social and political transformations.

"There is an emerging landscape of technology and innovations exchange in the global south whose rapid rise is due to manufacturing, investments in modern technologies and efficient utilization of opportunities arising from globalization," Head of Monitoring and Research Division, UN-Habitat, Oyebanji Oyeyinka told journalists in Nairobi on Wednesday.

Speaking during the launch of the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) 2012 report in Nairobi, Oyeyinka noted that by 2010, emerging economies of Brazil, Russia, India and China recorded a 7.5 percent economic growth thanks to their robust manufacturing sector and investments in human resources.

The 2012 UNCTAD report calls for a radical shift in south-south cooperation to emphasize on mutual collaboration in technology and innovations.

Emerging countries are the new frontier for rapid economic growth due to greater investments in home grown manufacturing sector, knowledge and skills.

Oyeyinka stressed that trade and other traditional aspects of south-south cooperation are not sufficient to spur economic and social progress in the developing world.

"There is need to go beyond the notion of trade and explore how countries in the South can challenge the north by building up capacities in manufacturing and skilled workforce," Oyeyinka said.

South-South foreign direct investments are on an upward trajectory and should be harnessed to promote technology and skills transfer.

Oyeyinka revealed that 53 percent of high technology products imported by developing countries by 2010 were sourced from their counterparts in the south.

"The south is actually exporting not only manufactured goods but technologies and skills needed to promote sustainable economic growth in developing nations," said Oyeyinka.

Asian countries are leading in development of industrial and technological hubs that are responsible for their rapid economic transformation.

"China has been called the factory of the world because of manufacturing prowess and investment in skilled workforce," Oyeyinka said.

He challenged African countries to invest in technology and innovations to build knowledge based and globally competitive economies.

"African countries should copy China's model of investing in universities and vocational centers to create a critical pool expertise required in a knowledge based economy," Oyeyinka told Xinhua.

He observed that greater focus on consumption rather than production is to blame for high unemployment among African nations.

"Africa should invest in knowledge intensive goods and services where the wealth of nations lies," Oyeyinka said.

He added that Africa has greatest strength in agriculture, housing, construction and telecommunications and countries should focus on these sectors to catalyze economic growth.

"Education is a critical enabler for economic growth, Asian countries are prospering due to emphasis on education and literacy," Oyeyinka said.

He regretted that inadequate investments in technological training, weak support for local enterprise, poor linkages and distorted intellectual property regimes have undermined south-south trade and technological exchanges.

"Investments in research and development, establishment of a legal framework to deal with patents and property rights, experience sharing and building capacity for locals will help address shared challenges to spur innovations and technology exchange in the south," Oyeyinka intoned.

He called on developing countries to create a conducive policy, economic and political environment to spur innovations and technological development.

"Prosperity thrives when there is peace; to promote south-south cooperation in technology and innovations exchange, countries must ensure there is stability," said Oyeyinka.