Alhamdulillah.
A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Agricultural Research Center (ARC), Giza, Egypt, represented by the President ARC, Prof Dr Adel Abdel Azim and Advisor to President, Dr Abdur Rahman Ilyas; and Dairy Science Park (DSP) was represented by Dr Mithat Direk, Focal Point DSP Turkey and Prof Dr Saber Mohamed Abd-Allah, Focal Point DSP Egypt Chapter. Prof M Subhan Qureshi, President DSP signed the MoU online.
The MoU was signed during the International Conference on Livestock Development and Food Security held at ARC Giza. Prof M Subhan Qureshi, President DSP was invited to present a paper on, “CREATING EGYPT DAIRY
SCIENCE PARK IMBIBING THE MODEL OF DSP PAKISTAN”. The paper was presented by Dr Mithat Direk, FP DSP, Turkey.
A delegation from Pakistan comprising Engr Zeeshan Saeed Shah, CEO SunSaviour Pakistan; Prof Abid Ali, Chairman Zoology Department, AWKUM, Mardan; and Prof Sher Bahadar Khan, Principal Vet College, AWKUM, Mardan; were provided an invitation letter by President ARC, Giza, with a provision of visa on arrival at Cairo Airport. However, the Immigation Authorieis at Riyadh Airoport could not get clearance from Cairo Airport, which was an unfortunate occuring , impeding the establishment of such an important international collaboration.
However, Dr Ilyas was smart enough to face the situation bravely and wisely, making possible the DSP presentation during the Conference and negotaing the deed with the ARC and DSP officials. Finally, the draft was finalized and signed today. Alhamdulillah. Prof Sarzamin Khan, CTO DSP, Prof Umer Sadique, CFO DSP and Mr Kamran Akram Khan Executive Secreary DSP were taken on board during the process.
Under the MoU, the Dairy Science Park Egypt (DSPE) will be established as an internationally recognized Centre of Excellence that integrates Science, Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Public-Private Partnerships to accelerate Sustainable Livestock Development, Food Security, One Health, Biosecurity, Decent Employment, export substitution and Economic Growth in Egypt.
The Parties have agreed to collaborate in establishing and implementing the following strategic pillars of Dairy Science Park Egypt (DSPE).
- Business Incubation Centre (BIC): Support the creation and growth of innovative
livestock enterprises through business incubation, mentoring, investment facilitation and
commercialization of technologies, based upon the available knowledge and that generated
at the two centers of excellence mentioned in clause 5.4. - Entrepreneurship Development Programme (EDP): Develop entrepreneurial skills
among youth, women, researchers and livestock professionals through training, business
development and leadership programmes, based upon selection of the successful models
identified under BIC. - Livestock Entrepreneurship Development Centres (LEDCs): Establish integrated
centres with support from Academia, Industry, public and private sector organizations, to
promote livestock entrepreneurship, technology transfer, advisory services and value-chain
development for farmers, SMEs and agribusinesses, through replication of the successful
models. - Centres of Excellence (CoEs): Establish two specialized Centres of Excellence:
a) CoE for Genetics of Animal Production and Health (CEGAPH) and b) CoE for Livestock
Biology and Entrepreneurship (CELBE), to advance research, innovation and capacity
building in priority areas of livestock production, biotechnology, food safety, renewable
energy and allied sciences. - Digital Networking, Training and Artificial Intelligence (DNTAI): Promote digital
animal health and production and exploit entrepreneurship potential of the stakeholders,
through knowledge platforms, e-learning, artificial intelligence, precision livestock farming,
data management, marketing network and smart decision-support systems. - Capacity Building and International Collaboration: Strengthen human and
institutional capacities of the affiliated institutions through joint research, academic
exchanges, professional training, technical cooperation and international partnerships. - DSP International Coordination and Technology Transfer Unit (ICTTU) Peshawar: The
DSP International Coordination and Technology Transfer Unit (ICTTU), Peshawar, shall
serve as the international coordination platform of Dairy Science Park, facilitating knowledge
and technology transfer, institutional partnerships, entrepreneurship development, capacity
building, and global replication of the DSP Model. - Endowment Fund and Investment Mobilization: Develop sustainable financing
mechanisms by mobilizing public, private and development partner investments to support
the long-term growth and sustainability of DSPE, focusing mainly on generating and
replicating entrepreneurship models.
We expect the following outcomes from the successful implementatin of the MoU:
- Availability of a specialized National Center of Excellence as a sustainable Good Governance Model.
- Joint research and innovation programmes supporting entrepreneurship development across livestock value chains.
- Import substitution and export promotion.
- Establishment of International Linkages, contribution to Egypt Vision 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals.
