REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, BOGOR -- The Science and Technology (IPTEK) Committee of ASEAN is holding its 68th meeting here to finalize action plan in science, technology and innovation to be implemented in 2015-2020.

"In line with my report to Vice President Boediono the 9th ASEAN Science and Technology Week is important and so is the 68th meeting of the ASEAN Science and Technology Committee," Research and Technology Minister Gusti Muhammad Hatta said here.

Hatta said he is confident that in the three-day meeting, opening in Friday at the Bogor Agriculture Institute (IPB) International Convention Center in this West Java city, that ASEAN decision makers in science and technology could accelerate finalization of the new action plan to be implemented in 2015-2020.

Acceleration of the action plan is important, he said, adding science community should think how to keep economy growing and how the people could benefit from the growth and at the same time how science and technology and innovation could advance.

"Better attempts are needed to minimize disparity among and within ASEAN member countries. That is an agreement that the committee should reach for action plan in the future," he said.

Reform in structural policy that would support development of science and technology as well as innovation in each member country of ASEAN is the key to success in the development of the sector in this regional grouping, he added.

ASEAN countries need to continue the process of development to be ready to meet faster change in global climate, he said.

Scientists and decision makers, therefore, should formulate a new action plan to combine the interest in boosting economic growth in each member country of ASEAN without excessive exploitation of resources, he said.

The 68th Committee meeting is attended by representatives form the 10 member countries of ASEAN .

The Committee meeting would be followed by talks with dialog partners from a number of other countries on August 23-24.

Earlier the research and technology minister opened an ASEAN science and technology and innovation exhibitions to last from August 22-25 in the Botani Building in Bogor.

The exhibition presents products of technology related to food, farming, energy , health and the environment with participants not only from ASEAN countries but also from Europe, China and Japan.

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