Cairo: The Arab League has launched an initiative aiming to support scientific research in member states affected by conflict, an official from the Cairo-based bloc said on Monday. At a time where large swathes of the globe are plagued by escalating unrest, the initiative represents a glimmer of hope that seeks to build trust in a more "stable future," said the Arab League's healthcare and humanitarian aid department chief Maysa Hadmi amid a ceremony to launch the initiative.
According to Kuwait News Agency, underlining the significance of scientific research, the official said it was tantamount to a pillar of any nation's sustainable development plans, where investment there was crucial to build a "knowledge-based" economy, she underlined. The official went on to say that the regional bloc has worked diligently to invest in scientific research and technology, putting in place a comprehensive "strategy" devoted to the matter, which forms the focal point of the Arab League's sustainable development plans, she added.
On the intricacies of the initiative, she said it aims to support researchers in the wider Arab region, in addition to reconstructing research centers and facilities that lie in ruin as a result of armed conflict, added the official.