Development Co-operation: National Strategy and Its Regional Aspects
on 16 November, 2001 in Prague
The University of Economics in Prague organized a conference within the framework of the EADI Executive Committee meeting from November 16-17 in Prague oriented to the actual problems of developing countries. The main objective of the meeting of experts, representatives from national institutions, university and academic workers was to lay the foundations for the co-operation, co-ordination and dialog needed to develop conceptual strategies of the Czech Republic's development aid. The connection between scientific research and the practical needs of the state policy create the necessary base for effective development aid and co-operation. Transforming the Czech economy has now become a matter for international economic and political processes, within the framework of the European integration process, and in this context also formulates the national policy towards developing countries. It is necessary to establish long-term functional connections with these countries, but until now this has only played a very small role in the country's strategy of external economic relations. This will also help solve the problems of spatial and regional criteria of foreign assistance that play an important role in the fields of research of new development strategies and Czech assistance in development aid and co-operation. With regard to the territorial specifics of the Third World and to the possibilities of economic co-operation with the Czech Republic, it is possible to utilize current knowledge and traditions of economic contacts with the developing countries. This co-operation in the different areas of life has its roots at the beginning of the last century, i.e., before the Czech Republic was even born. An integral part of the conference was to comprise the effort to create a foundation for the future integration of Czech experts in international networks of experts involved in development aid. Part of this discussion was orientated to exchanging scientific experience of experts from Central and Eastern Europe with that of specialists from Western European countries. Alongside scientific and research aspects of development aid within the framework of integration and national political aims, this conference contributed to economic and trade co-operation between European and the developing countries. Czech economic subjects can profit from some existing advantages, namely knowledge of the environment, the language and its historically based trade contracts. Czech experts working in many fields connected with the elaboration of development programmes, strategies etc. can, thanks to their experience, contribute to elaborating the social infrastructure, legislative, administrative and social basis of economic development processes. The results of these scientific and research activities may also become the starting point for entrepreneurial activities not only in the Czech Republic and Europe; they may contribute to the transformation process in developing countries. An integral part of this conference was the enlargement of the existing European scientific and research organizations. The discussion of international co-operation with the OECD (Development Assistance Committee) and with other European organizations and institutions contributed to this. Thus, the results of this conference may form the basic decisive documents for national institutions to specify basic economic-political strategies. The integration of the Czech economy into the world economic process is closely connected to the increasingly broadly based pedagogical and scientific activities of the universities.
The aim of this conference was reflected in the thematic groups that the discussion contributions formed. The first thematic group was oriented to the integration of political, economic and academic aspects of development aid and co-operation. Representatives of national and university institutions presented the actual concept of Czech development aid, the importance of which was presented by the presence of the European Commission delegation in Prague. The main objective of this block was not only to evaluate, but also to look forward to new ways of providing development aid to Third World countries. This discussion also created the possibilities for the intensification of the co-operation between the national and academic institutions. Applied research used to solve concrete problems of developing countries will be in accord with the possibilities and national priorities of the Czech Republic. In this sense also basic research may contribute to effective and qualitative results of development aid. The second thematic group was orientated to training projects at the University of Economics in Prague and other universities specializing in development co-operation and aid. The referees from the individual universities were specialists not only in training but also in development studies. The third block dealt with concrete issues connected with development projects and strategies. Experts involved in the development of the National Development Plan outlined their experience and presented the possibilities of applying this to developing countries. The role of the other subjects orientated to development aid and co-operation were presented. This international meeting also presented projects that are linked to the creation of the Centre of Development Studies at the University of Economics in Prague. This Centre will bring together experts, in particular from academic and university institutions, co-ordinating their co-operation with national institutions involved in development aid. An important feature of the Centre will also be to provide consultancy and guidance. Developing the institutional foundation will enable the Czech academic community to react dynamically to the needs and problems of the contemporary world.
Jaroslava Kaderabkova,
University of Economics, Prague
