A Japanese was asked: How can the Arabs benefit from the Japanese experiment?
His reply: If the Arabs really want a seat in the 21st century train, they have to do the following:
• They have to develop their educational systems and syllabuses. You cannot have development by just imitating others. Development requires basic infrastructure, making use of modern technology and expertise. All these should be done in harmony with a country’s development process and requirements of cultural progress.
• They should improve how their institutions function through good planning and organization and technological and scientific integration.
• They need to understand that the transfer of technology demands building up of a national technical cadre, not importing manpower.
• They should be ready to produce equipment and machinery and work to develop them.
• They should strive to achieve excellence in the quality of their products and services.
• They should develop cultural awareness among the public and try to merge individual achievements with national objectives.
• Instead of simply marveling at technology, they should try to grasp its secrets. They should also try to produce technology instead of making use of something produced by others.
• People should have faith in local producers so that the consumer gives preference to national products.
An interesting irony is that the Japanese sent a delegation to Egypt during the time of Khudaiwi Ismail to find out the reasons for Egypt’s progress over Japan and make use of the Egyptian experiment!!
But in a UN report in 1998, Japan topped the list of the most technologically advanced countries.
At the same time, in the league of developing countries, Egypt placed 116th among 160 countries.