Egypt and Italy have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen their collaboration in the space sector.
The Memorandum of Understanding which was
signed in Cairo between the Italian Space Agency (ASI) represented by President
Teodoro Valente and the Egyptian Space Agency (EgSA), represented by CEO Sherif
Mohamed Sedky, was done in the presence
of the Minister of Business and Made in Italy, who is also responsible for
aerospace policies Adolfo Ursi.
The
collaboration between ASI and EgSA will facilitate investments in the
space sector by the industries involved in this sector, which together
with the space agencies, could develop projects and initiatives of common
interest at a Mediterranean level, in Africa and internationally.
“Italy can be a protagonist in supporting the
African continent in the space sector, considered a priority in the context of
the initiatives envisaged by the Mattei Plan”, declared the Minister
of Business and Made in Italy with responsibility for aerospace policies Adolfo
Urso. “The agreement signed today is
strategic for the development of innovative technologies that will spread
through more industrial sectors. Africa, the continent of the future, is
central to the development of the space sector, as demonstrated by our base in
Malindi which could potentially be used by African countries, which finally
also want to compete in one of the most important sectors of the future
society”.
“The agreement signed today,” stated the president
of ASI Valente, “represents a bridge
between Europe and Africa, a corridor between Italy and Egypt in the space
sector. In this way, ASI continues its commitment to consolidating privileged
relationships with African countries entering the sector, within the framework
of the initiatives promoted by the Italian Government in the context of the
Mattei Plan for Africa”.
Egypt is one
of the African countries that are consolidating their space policy: the setting
up of EgSA in 2019 testifies the government’s interest in broadening interest
in the sector, which for several years has concentrated mainly on science and
remote sensing.
The
Memorandum of Understanding highlights the intention of Italy and Egypt to
intensify cooperation in space sciences and technologies and to promote collaboration
between universities, research institutes and companies of the two countries.
Further
areas of cooperation could include Earth Observation and Remote Sensing, space
applications, capacity-building projects and specialist training initiatives.
Earth Observation, with reference to the monitoring of the variables and
effects of climate change on society and the national economy, could constitute
an important area of potential collaborations and joint projects capable of
involving Italian companies that can boast specific expertise.
By: Nana Appiah Acquaye
