27 January 2004
'Speech by YB Datuk Seri Syed
Hamid Albar, Minister of Foreign Affairs-Malaysia During The Witnessing Of The Signing
Ceremony Between OIC-CIO Programme'
Address by : YB Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar
Date : 27 January 2004
YBhg.
Dr. Ishkandar Baharin,
President
and CEO,
OICNetworks
Sdn. Bhd.
Excellencies,
Ladies
and Gentlemen,
Assalamu'alaikum
and Good Morning,
It
is indeed a pleasure for me to be here this morning at this auspicious occasion of the
signing of the OIC-CIO Programme. We are here to witness the formalisation of partnerships
for OIC-CIOP: the OIC Centre for Intellectual Opportunity, which is a part and parcel of
OICeducation Programme. I would like to thank Dr. Ishkandar Baharin, President and CEO of
the OIC Networks Sdn. Bhd. inviting me to say a few words during this occasion and to
witness the signing. As all of us are aware, the 10th OIC Summit in Putrajaya, October
2003, has focused the discussions on the subject of Knowledge and Morality. The Summit
Resolution had clearly indicated the intent to put emphasis on knowledge development and
the adaptation of science and technology in the OIC community. The effort by the OIC
Network is certainly a step in the right direction to achieve those objectives. I would
like to congratulate OICNetworks Sdn. Bhd. for their initiatives and efforts in
introducing new programmes for education in OIC countries in line with the objectives and
resolution of the Summit.
I
am glad to hear that recently OICNetworks has started the development of Science and
Technology Portal for OIC community together with MINT, an institution under the Ministry
of Science, Technology and Environment with a mandate from COMSTECH.
The
collaboration undertaken represents a successful initiative and noble effort in promoting
and developing education programmes for the benefit of OIC member countries. It is also
heartening to see other Malaysian training institutions joining the programme, thus
extending their own skills and expertise to the OIC countries. Indeed, these institutions
are praiseworthy to be given the credit as thoroughbred team members of the programme. I
hope more experts will join the programme to put their skills in motion with full force.
I
am very pleased that we can provide the initial step that may serve as a big leap for the
future. I am sure this first step will have a forceful long-term impact on the
productivity of every Muslim workforce. I am also very confident that many more OIC
countries can collaborate together to provide the impetus and leadership towards equipping
the Muslim workforce with all the necessary tools, knowledge and systems. The ummah must
be exposed to the very latest technologies, skills, and management practices such as
wireless broadband communications, effective communication skills, and work performance
measurement systems such as balanced scorecards. Without exposure to these latest
techniques, it is impossible to expect that we can be at par with our non-Muslim
colleagues.
Programmes
like OIC-CIO will boost not only the level of competitiveness of Muslim workforce but also
at the same time increase the trade and tourism within member countries. The current
phenomena of travel advisory and restriction imposed to Muslim and Muslim nations should
open new opportunity among Muslim nations to increase their interaction, trade and
services internally.
My
Ministry will lend all the needed support to ensure that programmes like OIC-CIO could be
implemented effectively. I can also give assurance that our Malaysian Embassies and
Consulates will play its role in promoting this initiative overseas. I would also like to
encourage all other member countries to take part in introducing this noble undertaking in
their respective countries. I am sure OIC-CIO will require not only support from Malaysian
institutions but also from all OIC member countries.
Finally,
I am glad to see significant number of foreign delegates to witness today's signing
ceremony. I am sure this is a true representation on a very high expectation for all of us
to put all of our effort together to revitalize OIC and OIC countries.
Last
but not least, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate and thank OICNetworks
Sdn. Bhd, its partner TimeCom Holdings Sdn. Bhd. and the institutional partners SIRIM,
MIGHT-Meteor, Malaysian Institute of Management, APIIT, and BostonWeb for their
initiatives and willing contributions towards fulfilling Malaysian responsibility as the
Chairman of OIC through the OIC-CIO initiative.
Wabillahitaufik
walhidaya wassalamu'alaikum warrahmatullah hiwabarakatuh.
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