APRSAF-ESPI jointly held "Inter-Regional Space Policy Dialogue"

In the evening of 22 June 2018, the APRSAF Secretariat and European Space Policy Institute (ESPI) co-organized an event titled, "Inter-Regional Space Policy Dialogue between Asia-Pacific and Europe - Towards Space Policy for Socioeconomic Development" at ESPI in Vienna, Austria during the United Nations COPUOS session this year. About Sixty space policy experts from twenty-five countries participated in this first-ever event.

While many countries in the Asia-pacific region start developing its own space policy and/or launching full-scale initiatives to conduct nationtxt-level space activities, the APRSAF has begun to organize opportunities to exchange views at the policy level, as well as collaboration activities led by the working level of implementing agencies, and organized the "Space Policy Session" at the APRSAF-24 last year for the first time. The Joint Statement of the APRSAF-24 noted the importance of space policy practitioners to regularly gather and exchange views, and this event at ESPI was an opportunity to follow up on the Statement.

The event was arranged to provide a number of representatives from both regions with the opportunity to exchange views on highly relevant topics regarding space policy for socio-economic development, and to learn more about the respective approaches taken towards the development and implementation of space policies in other countries.

During the first session, representatives of the co-organizers, Mr. Akira Kosaka, APRSAF Executive Secretary, and Mr. Jean-Jacques Tortora, Director of ESPI, each presented an overview of the space policy communities in their respective regions.

During the second session, space policy experts from Asia-Pacific and Europe regions respectively presented the space policies and activities of his/her nation, and discussed actions to be taken in order to make use of space technologies for the national issues, from a space policy standpoint.

As the first opportunity for dialogue between Asia-Pacific and European space policy communities, the event was successful.

We highly expect that the opportunities organized for the government officials responsible for space policy to come together periodically to exchange views will lead to a deeper, mutual understanding of the policy matters that are important to each country, and create a platform for policy-level collaborations that can address common social issues.
APRSAF will continue to promote space policy discussion within the Asia-Pacific region as well as space policy dialogues with other regions.

*All photos on this page are contributed by Mr. Kang San KIM (Antonio Fowl Stark).

Panelists, Representatives of Co-organizers and Moderator are listed below:

*Because of absence, contributed by presentation material

Reference

Event website at ESPI