4th ANSO General Assembly, held in Beijing on 30-31 October 2025, elected its Governing Board’s Members. Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South (COMSATS), which was serving 2-year term as Member of the Governing Board since 2023, was re-elected. Other elected members of the Governing Board are from China, Chile, Egypt, Mongolia, Montenegro, Senegal, Serbia and Uzbekistan. COMSATS is ANSO’s member since 2022. ANSO, the Alliance of National and International Science Organizations for the Belt and Road Regions, had 77 Members from 52 countries. During the 4th GA meeting, it admitted new members at the recommendation of the Governing Board, which raised the membership to 96 Scientific Institutes/Organizations.
The Executive Director COMSATS, Ambassador Dr. Mohammad Nafees Zakaria participated in the 4th ANSO General Assembly and 10th meeting of ANSO Governing Board, during which he actively participated and rendered necessary advice. He gave inputs for ANSO’s future development strategy and priorities as also in the context of emerging technologies during the course of discussions among the members. Appreciating ANSO’s phenomenal growth and substantive activities, Amb. Zakaria committed to COMSATS’ continued support and due role towards attaining the objectives that the two Scientific Organizations share. He reaffirmed COMSATS bringing its institutional experience, Network of Centres of Excellence, expertise and capabilities to jointly promote science, technology, innovation, and inclusive development across the Global South.
Amb. Zakaria noted that COMSATS and BRI have 24 common Member States. Moreover, three of COMSATS’ Centres of Excellence (NRC-Egypt, RSS-Jordan and TUBITAK-Turkiye) are also members of ANSO. Adding to the ANSO’s scholarship program, he offered five MS and PhD scholarships at COMSATS University for nominees of ANSO. Welcoming the scholarship offer which was announced among the members, the ANSO President appreciated the active contribution of COMSATS through its collaboration and scientific activities.
The newly elected board held the 11th meeting under the newly elected Presidency of Chinese Academy of Sciences and discussed future development strategy of the organization.
Executive Director ANSO facilitated ED COMSATS’ meeting with President of ANSO-Initiated Alliance on Innovative Enterprises for the Belt & Road Regions, Ms. Cui Yuting for investing in the Electric Vehicle, and indigenous technology acquired by COMSATS’ technology partner AGECO under the brand name ‘ECONOMIA’. The President expressed keen interest and discussed next steps to carry forward the business proposal.
The depth of COMSATS and ANSO collaboration and its benefits are manifested in numerous scientific and capacity building activities jointly organized by the two, significantly 10 terms of ANSO-BIDI School during 2020-2025, which trained over 650 scientists, researchers and leaders belonging to COMSATS’ member countries on various topics related to Innovation, Sustainable Development and Leadership Enhancement.
