The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, represented by the Saudi Space Agency (SSA), concluded its active participation in the sixth edition of the Space Economy Leaders Meeting (SELM) of the G20, hosted by the Republic of South Africa in the city of Hermanus from September 1 to 3, 2025.
The meeting witnessed wide participation from space agency leaders, policymakers, industry and research experts, as well as representatives of international organizations and the private sector.
According to a press release issued by the SSA, the Saudi delegation was headed by Deputy CEO of the Saudi Space Agency Eng. Ahmed Al-Ghufaili, who delivered the keynote speech highlighting the pivotal role of the space economy as a driver of global economic development. He noted that the space sector has become one of the main engines for supporting innovation, stimulating investment, and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
He also emphasized that, through Saudi Vision 2030, the Kingdom is working to build an integrated space ecosystem that strengthens its international presence in this vital sector.
The release added that Al-Ghufaili also delivered the main statement across three sessions. The first addressed aligning policies with the Sustainable Development Goals, the second focused on public-private partnerships and knowledge transfer, while the third was dedicated to the sustainability of space operations.
During these sessions, he showcased national initiatives that reflect the Kingdom’s commitment to space sustainability, the empowerment of the private sector, and the development of national talent.
On the sidelines of the meeting, the agency’s delegation held several bilateral meetings with international delegations, space agencies, and specialized companies. They also visited the Space Science Center of the South African National Space Agency to review research projects, exchange expertise, and enhance prospects for future cooperation.
The Group of Twenty (G20) is an international forum of developing and developed countries seeking solutions to global economic and financial issues. The G20 comprises 19 countries including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Türkiye, United Kingdom, and the United States and two regional bodies, namely the European Union and the African Union.
The SELM was initiated during Saudi Arabia’s Presidency and was led by the Saudi Space Commission (2020) and was the first meeting of space agency leaders that belong to G20 countries. The meeting was hosted by the G20 Saudi Secretariat, as a part of the International Conferences Program honouring Saudi Arabia’s G20 Presidency.
The objective of hosting SELM was to facilitate a stage on which influential countries (who foster the common vision of elevating the space sector) can collaborate on future and existing projects revolving around peaceful space exploration, space industry investment, and space science innovation.
The Saudi Space Commission further envisaged the SELM not only as a platform, but also as a forum through which the Kingdom’s political, economic, and scientific commitments to peace and international development could be underscored.
SELM has since been hosted as follows: The Italian Space Agency (2021); the National Research & Innovation Agency of Indonesia (2022); the India’s Space Research Organisation (ISRO) (2023) and the Brazilian Space Agency (AEB) in 2024. The South African National Space Agency (SANSA) hosted the 6th SELM in 2025.
The delegates included Heads of Space Agencies, the European Commission; the African Union Commission, guest countries; the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA), the International Astronautical Federation (IAF), and several other organisations, consulting firms, economic entities and experts in the fields of space.
Proceedings and conclusions will form part of recommendations to the G20 Research and Innovation Working Group (RIWG) and the G20 countries, in line with the United Nations’ “Space2030” agenda.
