Sunday 20/April/2025 – 02:44 PM
Dr. Ayman Ashour, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, witnessed, today, Sunday, a deputy for Dr. Mustafa Madbouly, Prime Minister, the opening of the African Space Agency, in the presence of Dr. Badr Abdel -Ati, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration, the team Mohamed Abdel Gawad, Commander of the Air Force, Mr. Mario Augusto, Minister of Communications, Information Technology and Social Communication in Angola, Dr. Titian Uatara, Chairman of the African Space Agency Council, Dr. Sherif Sidqi, CEO of the Egyptian Space Agency, and a number of from Ambassadors, a group of African countries representatives, and heads of African and international space agencies and bodies, at the new headquarters of the agency.
In his speech delivered on behalf of Dr. Mustafa Madbouly, Dr. Ayman Ashour conveyed the greetings of Dr. Mustafa Madbouly, Prime Minister of the attendees. The Minister also expressed his happiness to participate in this distinguished historical event, and to announce the opening and start of the African Space Agency, a dream that we have always waited, and today it is achieved on the ground with a distinguished location along with the Egyptian Space Agency, noting that this event embodies the spirit of cooperation and integration between the countries of the continent, in the fields of education, scientific research and technology, especially in the space science and technology sector.
The Minister of Higher Education on the opening of the African Space Agency: a historical moment that embodies the spirit of cooperation between the countries of the continent
The minister pointed out that the space industry has become one of the fastest growing industries in the world, highlighting international reports that stressed the need for the African continent to move in a confident step towards serious investment in this vital sector; To ensure that it has a foothold and a fair share of this promising industry and its increasing returns, noting that the countries of the African continent are full of their promising youth, and they have the largest percentage of young people in the world, pointing out that these young energies, if they are trained and qualified well, can turn into a real engine for the African space industry, and to a basic pillar to achieve a qualitative leap in the fields of science and technology.
Dr. Ayman Ashour added that space technology is not just a specialized sector, but rather a field that intersects with the various branches of engineering and basic sciences, and scientific research, which enhances its strategic value as a comprehensive development tool, noting that Egypt is one of the oldest countries in the region that worked in the field of space technology, through the sensor center from the dimension that turned into the National Authority for Sensing from the dimension and space science that embraced the National Space Program until the Master’s decision was issued The President of the Republic in 2018 to establish the Egyptian Space Agency, believing in the political leadership of the importance of this technology in supporting the economy and development.
The minister pointed out that the satellite city that the Egyptian state has created as a space technology complex, includes the Egyptian Space Agency along with the African Space Agency, and it has all the necessary infrastructure for the Satellite Collecting and Test Center, which reaches more than 1 ton, as well as the spacecraft center and reception stations of satellite data in the space city, with its high and future capabilities such as establishing a free zone And a zone for companies and an industrial space for the space industry, in a way that enhances the integration and unification of efforts, for space programs in African countries to maximize the benefit of all countries of the continent.
Dr. Ayman Ashour stressed that Egypt, represented by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, has paid great attention to the space file in Africa, based on a firm belief in the importance of this technology in supporting sustainable development and enhancing the capabilities of the continent in the areas of innovation and knowledge, explaining that Egypt provided scientific and technical support through its experts, in addition to hosting many technical meetings in Cairo, which contributed to preparing and adopting the first unified policy and strategy For space science and technology in Africa, during the summit of African countries in 2016, pointing out that Egypt has submitted an integrated file to host the agency’s permanent headquarters, and its selection was officially approved during the 2019 Summit of State.
The Minister described the opening of the African Space Agency as “the historical moment”, as this agency is not just a scientific institution, but rather a strategic step towards building a more progressive and prosperous future for the peoples of the continent, expressing his hope that the agency will be an effective tool for achieving digital transformation, support sustainable development, and promoting technological progress throughout the continent.
Dr. Ayman Ashour stressed that we aspire to extend the Internet services to cover all parts of the African continent, and that the agency contribute to the digitization of government and service institutions, in order to enhance performance efficiency and bring services closer to the citizen, and we also aspire to develop early warning systems that enable us to face risks and disasters; To protect lives, property, infrastructure and problems caused by climate change, as well as the great role of the agency in supporting development efforts, through the optimal use of natural resources, opening new horizons for production and investment, and to be a ray of innovation and progress, and a source of pride for all the people of the continent, expressing his happiness that the Arab Republic of Egypt is one of the partners in this ambitious march, and contributing its experiences and capabilities to achieve a future Bright to the continent.
