The Angolan capital, Luanda, is set to host the ‘New Space in Africa 2024’ conference from April 2nd to April 5th. This event is organized by the African Union (AU) in collaboration with ‘Space in Africa’. Mário Oliveira, the Minister of Telecommunications, Information Technologies, and Social Communication, announced this initiative on Monday in Luanda, highlighting the importance of the conference in promoting space exploration and innovation across the African continent.
The meeting between Angolan officials and representatives from the African Union for the Space Area, Ouattara Tidiane, and Space in Africa, Temidamo Oniosun, marked a pivotal moment in the preparations for the upcoming conference. During the meeting, both parties engaged in discussions to evaluate Angola’s readiness and capabilities to host the event. This included assessing various aspects such as infrastructure, logistics, and coordination efforts required to ensure the conference’s success. The visit served as an opportunity for Angolan officials to showcase their commitment to the conference’s objectives and demonstrate their capacity to contribute meaningfully to the discussions and activities planned during the event. Additionally, it provided a platform for mutual collaboration and exchange of ideas between Angola and key stakeholders involved in the African space industry, setting the stage for a fruitful and impactful conference.
The conference, themed “The role of space in reducing poverty in Africa,” aims to explore how the space industry can contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and align with the African Union’s development agenda. Through collaboration with the African Union, the event seeks to harness the potential of space technology to address poverty and drive socio-economic development across the continent.
The minister emphasized that leveraging space technology can empower Africa’s youth to contribute to economic growth and scientific advancement, ultimately benefiting the entire population. During their visit, they plan to exchange experiences with experts in the space and satellite industry to showcase Angola’s space program achievements and contributions. He assured that they are working closely with the African Union to ensure the conference’s success by creating the necessary conditions for its effective organization.
Ouattara Tidiane expressed that the conference presents an opportunity for Angola to showcase its expertise in space-related fields and highlight its young talent proficient in technology. He expressed satisfaction with Angola’s level of preparedness for hosting the event.
Temidamo Oniosun, the director of Space in Africa, elaborated that the space industry event has generated revenue of up to 20 million dollars.Temidamo Oniosun mentioned that the organization’s goal is to explore ways in which space resources can be leveraged to alleviate poverty in Africa. He noted that they anticipate around 500 delegates from various countries across the continent, including the United States, China, Japan, and the European Union Commission.
The event serves as a prestigious assembly of leaders in the African space and satellite industry.