MINISTERS, academics and industrialists from the Commonwealth countries on Monday opened the 40th Session of the Executive Committee of the Commonwealth Science Council in Cape Town. The one major purpose of the council is to enhance the capacity of its members to utilise science and technology for social, economic and environmental development. Ministers from Australia, New Zealand, Trinidad, Malta, India, Malaysia, Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Zambia, Mauritius, Tanzania and Mozambique the portfolio of Science and Technology are attending the three-day conference. The theme of the work programme for 2001-2003 is Science and Technology for Development, while promoting national systems of innovation through knowledge networking and tools such as foresighting will be the focus during that period. Dr Ben Ngubane, Minister of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology was elected chair of the council for the 2001-2003 term. – Pana