- Administrator Yoon Leads Space Economic Delegation with 12 Companies to Saudi Arabia
- KASA Signs MOU on Space Cooperation with Saudi Space Agency
Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA), led by Administrator Yoon Youngbin, has formed a space economic delegation* to enhance Korea's space industry presence in the Middle East. The delegation visited Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to strengthen the space industry cooperation between Korea and Saudi Arabia. Additionally, KASA signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Saudi Space Agency (SSA), headed by Mohamed Al-Tamimi, to establish a framework for cooperation in the space sector.
* KAI, Hanwha Systems, Nara Space, Hanwha Aerospace, INNOSPACE, TelePIX, Satrec Initiative, CONTEC, HANCOM InSpace, CSO(Contec Space Optics), Cosmo Bee, Unmanned Exploration Laboratory
The MOU between KASA and SSA, signed on March 11 at the SSA headquarters, marks a significant step in promoting cooperation in various fields, including deep space technology and communication, human spaceflight programs, satellite launches and payloads, and space science and engineering. This agreement is expected to accelerate the development of space technology and industries in both countries while enhancing technical collaboration.
To further promote Korean space businesses and expand partnerships with Saudi companies, KASA and SSA co-hosted a "Korea-Saudi Space Cooperation Seminar" on March 12 at the SSA headquarters. Korean companies involved in satellite development, small satellites and image analysis solutions, launch services, satellite components, ground station services, and space exploration presented their areas of cooperation. The seminar also included networking sessions to facilitate practical discussions between companies, with KASA playing a leading role in supporting Korean companies’ global space market expansion.
Saudi Arabia, seeking to diversify its national growth engines through Vision 2030, established the Saudi Space Agency (SSA) in 2018 to develop space as a core industry. Saudi Arabia is rapidly growing in the fields of deep space exploration, satellite communications, and space resource development, with strong investments in satellite development and communication technologies, such as the SaudiSat series. The country is focused on satellite operations for communication, Earth observation, and weather forecasting.
Furthermore, the fact that the space cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Korea took place during the Ramadan* period demonstrates the strong commitment of both countries to further strengthen their space collaboration. This initiative is expected to lead not only to the advancement of space technology but also to economic ripple effects, bolstering the global presence of Korean companies.
* In 2025, Ramadan will take place from March 1st to Marth 30th, according to Saudi Arabia’s calendar.
Administrator Yoon emphasized, "The space cooperation between Korea and Saudi Arabia will contribute to the industrial development of both countries in the short term and become an important collaborative model for jointly pioneering the future of the global space industry in the long term. KASA will continue to expand its international cooperation efforts to support the overseas expansion of Korean space businesses."