17 Jul 2014

The Minister of Transport and Communications, Mr Nonofo Molefhi says establishment of the Technology Transfer (T2) Unit in Botswana last year has facilitated international networking with other technology transfer centres across the globe. 

Speaking at the technology transfer unit stakeholder’s gala dinner and launch of the International Journal of Transportation Technology Transfer (T2) in Africa (IJT2A) Publication in Gaborone Tuesday, Minister Molefhi said this would enable professionals realise several benefits of international networking.

These included improved access to world-wide expertise, easier assessment of local practices against international practices and faster dissemination and implementation of new technologies. 

The main objective of the journal that addresses a broad set of issues facing Africa transport sector, particularly in Botswana, is to improve transportation through the dissemination of relevant transport technological information, training and research, enhancement of traffic safety and fostering of more economical, efficient and environmental sound transportation systems in Botswana. 

The Minister said Botswana, like any other developing country, lagged behind in terms of generation and exchange of knowledge and therefore professionals found it difficult to access much of the knowledge they needed to solve problems they faced. 

He explained that technology transfer, both within and outside the country to boost technological usage, was necessary for a country’s development. 

“In other words, the extent and efficiency of a country’s technology transfer system could reveal the extent of the country’s development”.

Minister Molefhi said globalisation and evolving technologies were driving profound changes in the role played by transportation in the society adding through research studies and publications on various disciplines, countries continued to provide authoritative and non-partisan policy advice to decision makers in government, academia and the private sector.

The Minister said although research in transportation was vital for our societies’ health, security and economic strength, there were persistent challenges to the vitality of the sector. 

He said funding for scientific research was increasingly uncertain and this called for trans-disciplinary and trans-sector research collaboration in order to ensure that fundamental advances are made in the areas of focus for continuity and sustainability of the journal publication. 

In addition, he said despite the challenges facing the transport sector, there were many promising avenues to strengthen it. He said new models of cooperation among academia, industry and government could better enable transport experts to meet the formidable challenges ahead.

Minister Molefhi further stated that the world was faced with complex problems that required the adoption of innovative researches and approaches that could bring about lasting and suitable solutions. 

He said the challenges facing communities - from climate change to providing adequate transport for the world’s growing population - were immense, urgent and intimately connected.

However with proper coordination, transport experts werepoised to help solve problems at this level of complexity and importance. 

In his closing remarks on behalf of the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Transport and Communications Ms Tsaone Thebe, the Director of Roads Mr Pius Mphathiwa said the T2 Unit had and continued to serve the nation as a champion of dissemination of new technologies and research outputs through the quarterly newspaper, biennial Africa wide conference, workshops and stakeholders forum. 

The T2 was established in June, 2014 after the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the then Ministry of Works and Transport and the University of Botswana with the involvement of the Federal Highway Administration of the United States of America. 

The first edition of International Journal of Transportation Technology Transfer (T2) in Africa (IJT2A), Volume 1, number 1, June 2014 is already out. ENDS