Portugal and Angola strengthen relations in space sector
A Memorandum of Understanding between the two countries was signed as part of the visit of the Prime Minister of Portugal, António Costa, to Angola. The protocol will pay special attention to academic and scientific activities and actions linked to Earth Observation.
The Prime Minister of Portugal, António Costa, and the President of Angola, João Lourenço, witness the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Portuguese Space Agency, represented by President Ricardo Conde, and the Angolan National Space Programme Management Office (GGPEN) represented by Director-General Zolana Rui João.
Portugal and Angola signed a Memorandum of Understanding for Cooperation in the Peaceful Use of Space, Space Sciences, Technologies and Applications. The signing occurred during the official visit of Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa to Angola, with Portugal represented by the Portuguese Space Agency and its president, Ricardo Conde, and Angola by its director-general, Zolana Rui João.
The Memorandum of Understanding outlines the collaboration between Portugal and Angola in several areas of technologies and services for the space sector, focusing on economic and scientific development in space sciences and Earth observation activities.
Portugal and Angola also agreed to promote, similarly to what the Portuguese Space Agency had already settled with Brazil, the implementation of an agenda on space technologies in the scope of the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP in the original acronym).
Thus, and in a more detailed but not exclusive manner, the two countries will work to support the following:
- The development of academic and scientific opportunities in fields related to space sciences, their technologies and applications, including through other organisations;
- The mutual identification of the potential to support socio-economic development in both countries through the development of Earth observation systems, including through the use of satellite imagery in diverse areas, such as water resources, urban planning, environmental assessment, forest monitoring, natural resource exploration and/or mapping, land and marine monitoring;
- The development of educational initiatives covering topics such as the development of small satellites and launchers or the development of space or space-based applications;
- The organisation of joint conferences, seminars and workshops of specialised short courses, among others;
- The joint dissemination of materials that provides to the public, policy-makers and media with a better understanding of space and its potential.
The agreement, which will last for five years and may be renewed for an equal period, foresees the creation of a technical working committee that will be responsible for promoting cooperation between the two countries, identifying other areas or forms of collaboration, as well as approving the activities plan and guaranteeing its monitoring and implementation.
