On the occasion of the first meeting of the space economy leaders of the current G20 session, under the chairmanship of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Kingdom of Bahrain, represented by the National Space Science Agency (NSSA), received an invitation from the Saudi Space Agency to participate in the first meeting of the space economy leaders. It was held on 7th October this year to coincide with World Space Week. Many pertinent agencies participated in the event, represented by heads of space agencies in the G20, the Economic Cooperation and Development of the United Nations (OECD), the United Nations Office of Space Affairs (UNOOSA), and the space agencies which are members of the Arab Group for Cooperation Space, and, finally, consulting organizations, companies, economic entities, and experts in the same sector.

The meeting focused on three main objectives, which were: (1) the support and coordination of the efforts of space agencies for the peaceful use in the outer space, (2) the promotion of the level of scientific and economic investment in the space sector, and (3) the emphasis upon the political, economic, and scientific roles of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its commitment to international development and peace.

The Kingdom of Bahrain was represented by Dr. Mohamed Ebrahim Al-Aseeri, Chief Executive Officer of NSSA, who stated: “At the outset, we extend our sincere thanks to our brothers in the Saudi Space Agency for their kind invitation to NSSA to attend this distinguished meeting, which is held at a time in which the world witnesses a rapid growth in the space sector in over 80 countries. This growth is achieved mutually by both the public and the private sectors. The contributions of the private sector form a large portion in recent years in terms of technical development and expansion in activity, the ability to involve various sectors and managing the same in a distinguished manner and at a relatively lower cost. The aim is to achieve large and rapid accomplishments and consecutive successes that have changed concepts about the space sector and required reformulation of strategies.”

He added, “the insistence, which we have witnessed today by the heads of the most prominent global space agencies to necessarily utilize the outer space for peaceful purposes and for increasing the investment levels, will have a positive impact upon the growth of this sector. Such a tendency will enhance cooperation among countries in the field of space activities, and will provide more joint investment opportunities, which will certainly contribute to increasing the growth and development rates at all levels for the benefit and prosperity of humanity.”

Al-Aseeri concluded his statement by praising the great and distinguished efforts of the Saudi Space Agency for arranging this high-level meeting and for the good management, organization, and excellent participation, which had a great impact upon defining the features of the future of the space sector in the region and in the world during the next decade.