South Africa and Saudi Arabia are close to signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in the space industry. Dr. Bonginkosi Blade Nzimande, South Africa’s Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, confirmed this development. The agreement will be implemented by both nations’ space agencies.
Expanding Space Cooperation
Nzimande expressed South Africa’s eagerness to collaborate with Saudi Arabia on developing joint satellites. This aligns with Saudi Arabia’s growing efforts to strengthen its space capabilities. Recently, the Kingdom established a Space Weather Center in South Africa.
Joint Space Program
Both countries’ space agencies agreed to establish a program dedicated to developing national space capabilities. This program will promote the space industry and facilitate commercial arrangements between the nations.
Framework for AI Cooperation
During his visit to Riyadh for the Global AI Summit (GAIN), Nzimande held talks with Eng. Abdullah Al-Swaha, Saudi Minister of Communications and Information Technology. These discussions laid the groundwork for strengthening bilateral cooperation in artificial intelligence (AI) and sharing best practices.
Expanding AI Dialogue
Nzimande emphasized that the talks also explored opportunities for policy dialogue, with the goal of expanding cooperation in AI-related fields.
