Despite possessing 70 percent of the world s energy resources and representing a quarter of the world s population, our collective contribution to the global economy is insignificant. This is only due to the vast technological superiority of the developed countries, which in turn in only because of the better developed human resource. There are only about 380 universities in the entire Muslim world as against 1000 universities in Japan alone. The OIC countries produce only 500 PhDs annually in contrast to 3500 PhDs from the UK alone. Not just this, the Muslim countries managed to produce just one percent of the world s research publications.
Human resource is our most valuable asset that needs to be nurtured and developed.
In this context, I propose that the D-8 should identify various reputed scientific and technological centers in the member states for promotion of exchange programmes and preferential access to our youth. The product of these institutions will be a valuable asset for the development of the knowledge base in our countries and the Islamic world. Our countries should not only develop within the D-8 framework but assume the role of an engine of growth for the Islamic World. Mr. President, In several regions of the world, absence of peace and stability, coupled with security concerns, heightened the challenges of development. For most part of the last century the Middle East has suffered because of denial of justice to the Palestinian people and the consequent Arab - Israeli conflict.