The Russian Foreign Ministry has said the launch of Tunisia’s first satellite would mark the beginning of a mutually beneficial partnership in the technology between both countries.

Telnet Holding owns Tunisia’s first satellite scheduled to launch on March 20 aboard Russia’s Soyuz-2 from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. And the satellite is named Challenge ONE.

Challenge ONE, Tunisia First Satellite will be Launched on the Nation’s Independence Day

The Russian Deputy Foreign Minister and Special Envoy to the Middle East and Africa, Mikhail Bogdanov, and the CEO of Telnet Holding, Mohemmed Frikha, had a tête-à-tête on Monday.

Following the talks between both parties, the Russian Foreign released a statement, according to UrduPoint. “Tunisia’s ambassador to Moscow Tarak ben Salem was also present during the talks”, it said. “Both countries also expressed the opinion that the March 20 of the Tunisian telecommunications satellite on Russia’s carrier rocket will put a start to a mutually beneficial partnership in the field of high technology”.

They also reiterated their willingness to expand business relations on various projects under the coordination of the Russian-Tunisian intergovernmental commission on trade, economic, scientific and technological cooperation. The eighth meeting of the commission is set to take place in the second half of 2021 in Moscow.