Africa must invest in ground infrastructure, satellite production and data applications to build a sustainable space economy, the head of the African Space Agency has said.
Tidiane Ouattara, president of the agency, outlined the strategy during an interview last week at the GMES & Africa Forum 2 in Cairo, which concluded under the theme of shaping Africa’s Earth observation roadmap.
“The space economy is essentially the contribution of space science and technology to economic growth, either by reinforcing existing sectors or by creating entirely new ones,” Ouattara said.
He identified three priorities: developing ground facilities such as data centres and receiving stations, advancing satellite and space vehicle production capabilities, and expanding downstream applications that convert satellite data into services.
Downstream applications include flood monitoring, climate surveillance, agricultural forecasting, forestry management, ocean observation and urban planning.
“Applications are where satellite data solves the daily needs of our communities,” Ouattara said.
Space technologies can help African nations manage natural resources, counter illegal mining, monitor transportation, improve navigation and build climate resilience, he said.
Ouattara emphasised that progress requires substantial investment in education and training.
“None of this will ever be possible without building a critical mass of human capital,” he said.
“Space is relatively new in Africa. We must train our young people.”
He urged governments, universities and programs like GMES & Africa to expand training in Earth observation, engineering and data analytics.
The forum produced a commitment to establish an Earth observation roadmap for integrating space technologies into national development plans.
Ouattara said the agency would work with partners to shift Africa from consumer to contributor in the global space economy.
The gathering brought together policymakers, scientists, private-sector representatives and development partners from across Africa.
By Sharon Kavhu, AfricaBrief