Punjab Governor and UT Administrator Shivraj Patil on Monday said that India and countries in Southern Africa can share their knowledge and cooperate in the areas of development of electronics, genetics, photonics, solar energy and exploration of oceans, and space.
Patil while presiding over conference on India’s partnership with countries in Southern Africa held at the Centre for Research in Rural and Industrial Development (CRRID), said that geographically India and countries of Southern Africa are close to each other.
He said in developing new concepts of governance, which suit their conditions, there is a big scope.
Patil said with cooperation with other countries, they can achieve what they want to achieve in shorter time, in a cost effective manner. He said in areas of research and development, both the countries can share their knowledge and cooperate.
The Governor said that in order to develop agriculture, we need water, new varieties of seeds, and fertilisers. Dams can be built to store rain water and irrigate lands. Computers and electronics can be used to save water and use it in a scientific manner. To develop new varieties of seeds, genetics can be used, he added.
Patil said to develop industry and to help human beings in their domestic activities, energy is required on a large scale. The methods of generating energy may not suffice in present times. Hence, new methods should be adopted and used. Nuclear energy and Solar energy can be produced. Non-conventional sources of energy can be used on a large scale. If that is done, it would help human beings to achieve many big objectives, said Patil.
He said that trade is needed to supply commodities, goods, technologies, knowledge at places where there is a need from the places where they are found in abundance. He said national trade and international trade should therefore be developed on a large scale.
Congratulating the members of the CRRID, for organising this discussion on cooperation between India and countries of Southern African, Patil said such kinds of discussions and interactions can bring together not only the Governments, but the people, and help in achieving the noble objective of being helpful to one another.
He further said that he was hopeful that, this seminar would help in developing better understanding which was required for cooperation between the Governments and people of India and countries in Southern Africa.