Second Expert Group Meeting on Academic, Science Technology (EGMASTC)–IORA

The Second Expert Group Meeting on Academic, Science Technology (EGMASTC) was held on Friday, 28 August 2020. The webinar meeting was chaired by Mr. R K Sharma, Senior Director, Department of Science & Technology of India and was attended by representatives of IORA Member States namely the Commonwealth of Australia, People’s Republic of Bangladesh, Republic of India, Republic of Indonesia, Islamic Republic of Iran, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Madagascar, Malaysia, Republic of Maldives, Republic of Mauritius, Republic of Mozambique, Republic of Seychelles, Republic of South Africa, Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, Kingdom of Thailand, United Arab Emirates, and the Republic of Yemen. The Regional Centre for Science and Technology Transfer (RCSTT) also attended the meeting.

In the meeting, the EGMASTC noted the revised Terms of Reference (TOR) presented by India and took cognizance of the inputs received from the Member States. It also took note of the revised Work Plan (2020-2021) presented by India and took cognizance of the inputs received from the Member States. The EGMASTC confirmed the revised Proposed Draft Criteria for Establishment of a Centre of Excellence (CoE) for IORA presented by Malaysia and took cognizance of the inputs received from the Member States. The brief overview of the decision of the Sixth Advisory Committee Meeting of the Chair in Indian Ocean Studies (CIOS) on 28 August 2020 was also noted on the Future Role of CIOS. The EGMASTC considered the draft Decision Report and agreed that the Report would be circulated by the Secretariat to all Member States by Wednesday 02 September 2020 for inputs from the Member States by 15 September 2020.