Mohammed bin Thamer Al Kaabi, Bahrain’s Minister of Transport and Communications and Chairman of the National Space Science Agency (NSSA), emphasised the importance of hosting the 6th International Space Forum at Ministerial Level - The Gulf Chapter (ISF 2024) in the Kingdom of Bahrain.
Held on 02 July for the first time in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, the Forum is supported by the International Astronautical Federation (IAF) and the Italian Space Agency (ISA), and focuses on discussing the future of space exploration.
The Minister highlighted the importance of the steps taken by the Arab Gulf region and the Arab world in advancing space science. He also pointed NSSA’s efforts with international partners to create a platform that promotes innovation, knowledge exchange, and collaborative partnerships in space exploration, diplomacy, and economic development.
Minister Al Kaabi emphasised Bahrain’s commitment to space exploration through NSSA’s strategic plan to make the Kingdom a regional and global hub for space conferences and dialogues, Bahrain News Agency (BNA) reported.
The Minister said that the theme of this edition of the Forum, “Space as a game-changer for diplomacy and economic development in the region”, underlined the transformative power of space technology in providing smart, efficient services benefiting society and decision-makers.
For his part, Jassem Mohamed Albudaiwi, the Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), commended Bahrain’s hosting of the 6th International Space Forum at the Ministerial Level – The Gulf Chapter (ISF 2024).
He said the Forum is important, as it comes amid rapid development and increasing interest in the space sector in the GCC countries, reflecting their interest to keep pace with the growth and advancement in this field.
Albudaiwi stressed that the topics discussed at this Forum, such as Earth observation, space exploration, and the harmonisation of space policies, are among the most critical issues that require attention.
He expressed hope that the forum's outcomes will encourage regional countries to invest more in space science, applications, services, and human capital.
Albudaiwi noted that the space sector is witnessing rapid growth in the innovation and development of space services and applications, contributing to improving lives.
He added that Earth observation applications provide services to monitor the environment, climate change, GPS, and support fields like health, energy, agriculture, and industry. Global investments in space exploration have reached about $272 billion since 2013.
Albudaiwi spoke about how the GCC countries have been working for decades to enhance their capabilities in the space field.
He said that the GCC countries have established national space agencies and authorities, launched specialised academic and training programmes, and encouraged innovation and scientific research.
The value of the GCC space economy is estimated at more than $10 billion, and the countries aim to increase investment in the space sector to achieve their ambitious national plans, Albudaiwi added.
The Secretary-General highlighted the prominent achievements of GCC countries in the space sector. This includes the UAE’s successful launch of the Hope Probe in 2020 in partnership with the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre and international entities, Bahrain's project to study and reduce carbon emissions in cooperation with the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia’s achievement in sending two pioneers to the International Space Station (ISS) to conduct scientific experiments with NASA, Oman’s launch of a scientific launchpad project, and Qatar’s signing of a project with NASA to design and launch a satellite for climate research. Additionally, the Secretary-General noted Kuwait’s participation in the SMAP satellite project team.
Professor Teodoro Valente, President of the Italian Space Agency (ASI), said that the Forum in Bahrain was the ideal place to discuss space topics, with an approach focused on stability, security, development, diversity, and national identity.
Valente added that the Arabian Gulf region had an emerging space sector with great potential. He expressed confidence that collaboration between emerging and established space powers will be fruitful, as knowledge-sharing is crucial for sustainable development.
He affirmed that this forum would open a new chapter of international action in the space sector, facilitating the advancement of cooperation for peaceful purposes.
Eugene Clayton Mowry, President of the International Astronautical Federation (IAF), expressed appreciation for the NSSA for hosting the Forum. He noted that since joining the IAF in 2021, NSSA has demonstrated remarkable participation and enthusiasm in IAF initiatives.
Mowry affirmed that the forum provides a unique platform for decision-makers to take concrete steps to address the needs of the region and its people, while also enhancing their space-related capabilities and potential.
