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Tunisia: Rethinking Development Strategies For Building Knowledge Economies

Global Arab Network - - George Haddad

Thursday, 03 December 2009 14:27

The international conference on knowledge economies issued the “Tunis Declaration on Building Knowledge Economies” at the close of its proceedings today afternoon in Tunisia.

The Declaration stressed the importance of rethinking development strategies of the Arab and Islamic States, in order to take advantage of transformative policies, innovation projects and renovation plans, which have become associated with moving towards a KE, through the provision of technical support, preparation of reference documents and offering scientific advice to these States.

It also called for the development of an initiative – both content–and process wise – that pays sufficient attention to the national context, culture and circumstances, especially with regard to the deepening and broadening of manufacturing to gradually build innovation capacity, increase the supply of higher order skills, as well as business services and logistics and develop several types of innovation whether it is product innovation, innovation in services or in business processes.

Besides, it called for exchanging the best practices and drawing lessons from successful KEs which are important for the States which would want to launch a systematic KE initiative.

Moreover, the Declaration emphasized the need that high-level officials display strong commitment to and bold vision for strengthening the four pillars of the KE (business environment, innovation, education, information and communication technologies and the economic and institutional framework), while linking all these components with trust- building and societal cohesion around the KE initiative, constantly reforming and improving the four KE pillars, and building cross-sectoral and intermediary bodies linking top KE policy-makers with the political, business, and science communities.

In addition, it put emphasis on the need for adopting a policy integrating the available natural resources of the Arab and Islamic States into the processes for transition from resources economy to knowledge economy, through an integrated infrastructure providing conditions for a strong knowledge-based economy.

Also, the Declaration recommended establishing a coordination network of specialized experts and technical officials to share experiences and expertise, follow up the national efforts, encourage regional initiatives, publicize international orientations in the field of the KE, and participate, if need be, in the design, implementation and follow-up of relevant activities and projects.
Furthermore, it called for the organization of study and consultation visits to Arab and Islamic States to develop road maps specific to these States to help steer their economies to the KE.

Equally important, it stressed the necessity to develop the appropriate mechanisms for the promotion of cooperation and partnership, for the activation of the role of the private sector and civil society institutions, and for the coordination of the contributions of specialized regional and international organizations, in accordance with effective, harmonious and integrated visions that meet pressing priorities and take into consideration the specificities of the societies concerned.

The Tunis Declaration called for convening a world summit on knowledge economy bringing together Arab and Islamic States, as well as other leading States and organizations in the field of the KE, to take appropriate resolutions and adopt plans likely to ensure transition to the KE.

In the same vein, it recommended supporting the leading proposal by the Tunisian president, Mr Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, to establish a specific programme for the building of the KE, to be supervised by ISESCO and funded by the Member States, so as to enhance cooperation and complementarity among Arab and Islamic States in achieving development and growth, while commending the experience and achievements of the Tunisian Republic in building KE and fulfilling balanced and sustainable development.

The Declaration equally invited ISESCO and the Tunisian Government, in cooperation with the World Bank and relevant organizations, to follow up these recommendations and take the necessary steps and incentive measures to implement them.

Global Arab Network

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