The Italy-Africa Space Conference to Focus on Three Fundamental Pillars
Key Highlight
- The Italy-Africa Space Conference will focus on education and training, space applications and services for a sustainable future, and international partnerships.
The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Honorable Antonio Tajani, inaugurated the Italy-Africa Space Conference, highlighting its importance.
The event, organised in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MFA.IC), the Italian Space Agency (ASI), and the Ministry of Enterprise and Made in Italy, is scheduled to begin at MFA.IC’s headquarters on July 15. In addition, the conference will continue in the afternoon, on July 16, at ASI’s headquarters.
Italy-Africa Space Conference Kicks Off with Global Collaboration Focus
The first day of the event had in attendance prominent attendees, including Minister of Enterprise and Made in Italy and President of the Interministerial Committee for Space and Aerospace Research Policies (COMINT), Adolfo Urso; Minister of Culture, Gennaro Sangiuliano; Undersecretary of State to the Prime Minister’s Office, Alfredo Mantovano.
Furthermore, other dignitaries include Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Technological Innovation of Congo, Delphine Edith Emmanuel Adouki; Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation of Ghana, Ophelia Mensah; Minister of Science, Technology and Higher Education of Mozambique, Daniel Niagara and the Minister of Planning, Investment and Economic Development of Somalia, Mohamed Adam Moalim.
Furthermore, the conference also had in attendence the Head of the Science,Technology and Space Division at the Department of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, African Union Commission, Dr Tidiane Ouattara; General Manager of Angola’s National Space Programme Management Office (GGPEN), Dr Zolana João; Director-General of the Senegalese Agency for Space Studies, Mr Maram Kaire; Director of Côte d’Ivoire Geographic and Digital Information Center, Mr Fernand Bale; CEO of the Egyptian Space Agency, Dr Sherif Sedky; Director General of the Gabonese Agency for Space Studies and Observations (AGEOS), Dr Aboubakar Mambimba; Director General of the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), Dr Mathew Adepoju.
The Italy-Africa Space Conference, a follow-up to the Italy-Africa Summit held in January 2024, aims to foster a spirit of collaboration by initiating bilateral and multilateral dialogues with space -faring African countries. In addition, the goal is to identify new cooperation areas within the Mattei Plan’s broader framework, in the space sector between Italy and Africa.
Over the next two days, the Italy-Africa Space Conference will spotlight education and training, space applications for a sustainable future, and international partnerships. It will also emphasise space diplomacy’s role in growth, and highlight the importance of training and satellite technologies for agriculture, water monitoring, land control, urbanization, and telecommunications.
Undersecretary Alfredo Mantovano emphasised the need for a strong legal framework and bilateral agreements to enable the exchange of classified information. He stated that with this infrastructure in place, Italy could share more advanced expertise with its partners
Mantovano emphasised the importance of these measures, stating, “A strong legal foundation is crucial for enabling the secure exchange of sensitive information. Without it, our ability to collaborate and share advanced expertise with our international partners is significantly hindered.”
In addition to legal and security concerns, Mantovano outlined the conference’s broader goals. He emphasised promoting an inclusive vision of space as a tool for sustainability and competitiveness, leveraging space diplomacy and cooperation to achieve these aims.
Increasing Strategic Focus on Africa
Italy has consistently focused on Africa in its foreign policy. Today, Italy’s relationships with African countries and organisations are based on equal partnerships designed to foster mutual development and tackle global challenges. By strengthening ties with African countries, they can enhance their geopolitical influence and secure strategic alliances that support its interests and those of its partners in international forums and global negotiations.
Furthermore, Europeans have established frameworks through conferences that aim to address Africa’s challenges, engage in political dialogues, create bilateral partnerships, and encourage shared growth pathways. So far, Italy has partnered with Egypt, Kenya, and Algeria to advance their space capabilities, promote space education, conduct research, and encourage the exchange of expertise and training.
Italy’s increasing interest in Africa’s space ecosystem reflects the growing investment by global communities in Africa’s space programmes. As more inter-conferences emerge, such as the US-Africa Space Forum and China-Africa Conferences, Africa’s space-faring countries should seize these opportunities to strengthen and expand their growing space ecosystem.