The Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South (COMSATS) and Technology Upgradation and Skill Development Company (TUSDEC) of Pakistan, signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the 21st of January, 2009.

TUSDEC’s mission is to upgrade technology and skills of key and strategic industrial clusters and connect Pakistan to the global value chain, while COMSATS is committed to facilitate sustainable socio-economic uplift of the developing countries. Keeping in view their mutual interests, the parties to this MoU intend to work together, coordinate their efforts and pool available resources for helping the industry in enhancing its capacity and increasing its competitiveness.

Dr. Imtinan Elahi Qureshi, Executive Director COMSATS, and Mr. Suhael Ahmed, Chief Executive Officer TUSDEC, formalized this valuable and beneficial partnership by signing the document on behalf of COMSATS and TUSDEC, respectively. The main objectives to be achieved through this agreement are the identification of skill and technology gaps in targeted industrial clusters by conducting joint studies, coordinating efforts to create and provide a pool of local and expatriate experts, and assisting each other in developing industry-academia linkages for sustainable economic growth.

It is envisaged that joint seminars, workshops and exhibitions will be held by the two organizations for achieving these objectives. The successful ventures in Pakistan would have the potential of replication in other member countries.