CAIRO, March 5 (UPI) -- Egypt promised to continue building Africa's science and technology agenda when it takes over a council promoting science and innovation, an official said.
Egypt hopes its successful scientific and technological experiences "will be passed to our African colleagues, and we will keep the momentum going," Maged al-Sherbiny, Egyptian assistant minister for scientific research and incoming chairman of the African Ministerial Council on Science and Technology, told SciDev.Net.
The two-year role overseeing the pan-African council passes to Egypt from Kenya when the council meets in Cairo next week.
Twenty-five African science ministers are scheduled to attend the meeting, along with representatives of Washington's National Science Foundation, the United Nations' World Health Organization and other U.N. agencies.
A delegation representing Japan's prime minister will also attend to discuss ways Japan can support African science, the allAfrica.com news Web site reported.
The meeting will also address funding shortages that have thwarted pan-African science initiatives, allAfrica.com said.
