"The theme of the 1st OIC Summit on Science and Technology - “Science, Technology, Innovation and Modernization in the Islamic World” is more pressing than ever before.

It should be emphasized that the Islamic world can be proud of its worthy contribution to the world science and civilization.

When we talk about this, first of all, with great respect and pride we recall the names of the great scientist, Al-Khwarezmi, Al-Ferghani, Abu Reyhan Beruni, who made a significant contribution to the development of many sciences, including geodesy and mineralogy, Ibn Sina, known in the West as Avicenna, the great astronomer Mirzo Ulugbek.

It is hard to overestimate the significance of this rich scientific and spiritual heritage, the heritage of all mankind, in achieving the progress and stability in the world.

It is for this purpose that at the 43rd session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers, held in Tashkent last year, that we put forward the idea of ​​creating an International Research Center after Imam Bukhari in Samarkand.

Today more than 100,000 manuscripts are being kept in Uzbekistan’s scientific funds, most of which are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

We started the construction of the Center for Islamic Civilization in Tashkent,  with the motto "With Education Against Ignorance", and we call upon the OIC member states to actively cooperate in this noble cause.

Dear participants of the Summit. Uzbekistan during its chairmanship in the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers put forward the slogan "Education and enlightenment - Path to Peace and Creativity". And this is no accidental.

Recently, new science and innovation institutions have been created in our country - Genomics and Bioinformatics Center, International Solar Energy Institute, Advanced Technologies Center and Uzbekistan-Japan Youth Innovation Center.

We highly commend the activities of the OIC Standing Committee on Cooperation in Science and Technology and intend to actively participate in its work.

However, we must acknowledge that nowadays many Muslim states lag behind in the field of science and technology. For example, out of 500 top ranked universities only 11 are located in the member countries of the OIC. In 2015, the share of applications for obtaining patents from OIC countries was only 1.9 percent. At the same time, in 2016, 7 member states of the organization accounted for about 80 percent of scientific publications in the OIC countries.

In spite of rich natural and significant financial resources most Muslim countries are failing in introducing innovations in their economy."

I hope that the establishment of cooperation aimed at developing fundamental sciences, scientific research will create a solid foundation for enhancing the scientific and technological potential of the Islamic world.

We have accepted with gratitude the proposal of the Organization to install in Samarkand of a state-of-the-art telescope as a sign of recognition of Mirzo Ulugbek's enormous contribution to the development of astronomy.

I would like to note that we fully support the OIC’s 10-year Action Program for 2016-2025 in this area, and we deem it important to pay special attention to the following tasks.

First. Concerning the climate change. In most regions of the world, the processes of soil degradation, shrinking of cultivated land, desertification, increasing droughts, and the scarcity of water for agriculture and the population have become a serious problem.

Secondly, we consider it necessary to enhance integration between science, education and manufacturing.

In this regard, we express support to the initiative of the President of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev, on the infrastructural integration of Muslim countries in order to ensure sustainable and inclusive economic growth, and strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation.

Third. In accordance with the recommendation of the Standing Committee of the OIC on the establishment of six high-performance computer centers on the territory of the OIC member countries, we want to confirm our readiness to host one of such centers in Uzbekistan.

We propose to create an International Islamic Center for Young Scientists, which will become a platform for exchange of experience and knowledge, conducting joint research.

Fourth. We propose to organize in Uzbekistan, with the assistance of the OIC Standing Committee, an international olympiad of young mathematicians dedicated to the great Al-Khwarezmi.

Fifth. It would be expedient to establish a special award of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation for scientific achievements in the countries of the Islamic world, as well as their promotion in the international arena.

Sixth. The renewable energy sources are of particular relevance for all of us. In this regard, we express our readiness to implement relevant R&D projects, including on the multilateral investment basis.

Seventh. Taking into account the importance of scientific and technical progress for sustainable economic development and ensuring a decent standard of living for the people of our countries, I propose holding the OIC Summit on Science and Technologies every three years, and if You support this proposal, we are ready to hold the next summit in 2020 in Uzbekistan.

Today's summit is a truly historic step in strengthening the unity of the Muslim world in the sake of the progress and prosperity of our countries and people.

I am confident that this forum will contribute to the realization of the sacred Hadith on Knowledge - Seeking knowledge is an obligation upon every Muslim, scripted on the portal of a madrasah in Bukhara, erected by the great scientist Mirzo Ulugbek.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Secretary-General of OIC, His Excellency Dr. Yusuf Bin Ahmad Al-Usaimin and the Chairman of the Standing Committee on Cooperation in the Sphere of Science and Technology, President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, His Excellency Mamnoun Hussein for practical efforts to expand the ties between our countries in development of science.

I sincerely congratulate the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev, on the successful holding of the EXPO-2017 international exhibition in the beautiful city of Astana and express my deep gratitude for organization of today's summit at the highest level.