CSF IDENTIFIES INNOVATION AS KEY DRIVER FOR COMPETITIVENESS AND ECONOMIC GROWTHCategory: Jobs & Careers
Article added by: Amir Jahangir
The Competitiveness Support Fund (CSF), a joint initiative of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Ministry of Finance (MoF) held a roundtable on Innovation here today. The roundtable was the first in a series of stakeholder interaction that the CSF will be carrying out for the preparation of the State of Pakistan’s Competitiveness Report 2008.
The roundtable was attended by the key stakeholders influencing the Innovation ecosystem. The participants included representatives from the Higher Education Commission (HEC), Pakistan Science Foundation, National Vocation Education Training Commission (NAVTEC), Board of Investment, Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB), Intellectual Property Organization (IPO) and representative from the World Economic Forum.
The roundtable addressed Pakistan’s performance on the Global Competitiveness Index of the World Economic Forum. CSF informed the participants that the State of Pakistan’s Competitiveness Report 2008 will identify the gaps in Pakistan’s economy and will be a policy guideline for the stakeholders in the public and private sectors as well as the academia in Pakistan. CSF explained the methodology adopted by the World Economic Forum for measuring the 131 economies on the 12 pillars. Pakistan among the 131 countries is ranked at 69 on the Innovation pillar. The Innovation pillar comprises of the sub indices, where Pakistan is ranked as following: Capacity for innovation (71), Quality of scientific research institutions (73), Company Spending on Research and Development (73), University-Industry research collaboration (62), Government procurement of advanced tech products (49), Availability of scientists and engineers (86), and Utility Patents (88)
CSF explained the stakeholders that, although substantial gains can be obtained by improving institutions, building infrastructure, reducing macro-economic instability or improving the human capital of the population, all these factors eventually seem to run into diminishing returns. To counter this, Innovation becomes particularly important for economies. Mr. Kwang Kim, the competitiveness expert leading the CSF team for the Report emphasized that for a knowledge-based economic growth it requires an environment conducive to innovative activity, supported both by the public and private sectors. In particular, this means sufficient investment in research and development especially by private, high quality scientific research institutions, collaboration in research between academia and industry and protection of intellectual property.
CSF, as the partner institution of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Pakistan, is working closely with the Global Competitiveness Network of the WEF on this report. CSF will be meeting all relevant ministries, leading public and private sector institutions, business councils and trade bodies along with academia and the media to engage its stakeholders through consultative input and feedback on the issues of competitiveness.
The 'State of Pakistan's Competitiveness Report 2008' will track Pakistan's performance, spotlighting the areas of progress and areas of further focus. In addition to explaining the results of the Global Competitiveness Report of 2007-2008 of the World Economic Forum and benchmarking Pakistan's progress, the report will evaluate Pakistan's progress in improving its competitiveness in 2008-09. Each of the areas of recommendations will be assessed based on tangible, measurable results.
CSF also informed the participants that the report will be an important policy tool for the government's economic growth agenda and for private sector investment in Pakistan. The report will also include the action plan and timetable to improve key industries that will boost the economic growth of Pakistan.
The first 'State of Pakistan's Competitiveness Report' was launched by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz in March last year. CSF reported that overall Pakistan had improved its competitiveness position in the rankings of the World Economic Forum. The 'State of Pakistan's Competitiveness Report 2008' will provide a framework for capturing the magnitude of gender-based disparities.
Support for CSF is part of the $ 1.5 billion in aid that the US Government is providing to Pakistan over five years to improve economic growth, education, health and governance.
Posted By: Amir Jahangir
Web: http://www.competitiveness.org.pk
Contact: e-mail
| About the Author: |
| Amir Jahangir is a strategic communication and media professional with over 15 years of experience with leading communications and media organizations. He is currently associated with the Competitiveness Support Fund, as a consultant on media and communication. He is also working on a medium- to long-term media development strategy for Pakistan as the incharge for the Innovation Journalism Program for Pakistan, a program in collaboration with the Stanford University on Innovation Journalism. He is the strategic communication consultant to various other initiatives on economic and strategic development for competitiveness and innovation.
Amir is also the Founder and Chief Strategy Officer for Mishal (Pvt.) Limited. Mishal was launched to fulfill the need for media consultancy in Pakistan, keeping in view various industry developments requiring strategic media communication including content strategy, marketing, human resource development and technical needs of the media industry.
Most recently, he was on the forefront of the media industry in Pakistan as the Chief Executive Officer of Television Business Production Limited, the leading production company for business and economic news programs in the country. He was also responsible for the strategic planning, content management and operations management, as the CEO and board member of the Vision Network Television Limited, which has recently launched the first internationally branded business and economic news channel CNBC Pakistan. Amir has been associated with various research and consultancy firms for research and analysis on various sectors including telecom, media, information communication technology and other socio-economic issues.
On the personal front, Amir has been married for over four years and resides in central Islamabad. While his work involves extensive traveling, which has now become his passion; he also makes time for classical music, poetry and books. |
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