from MARIA MACHARIA in Nairobi, Kenya
Kenya Bureau
NAIROBI, (CAJ News) – ITALY and Kenya are enhancing a six-decade long collaboration on space science as well as nascent ties in technology and innovation.
A senior government official disclosed the broadening of ties at the tour of the Luigi Broglio Malindi Space Centre (LBMSC), which is an operational base for the Italian Space Agency (abbreviated ASI in Italian) and a key hub for the Kenya Space Agency (KSA).
Anna Maria Bernini, Italy’s Minister for Universities and Research, and the President of the ASI, Teodoro Valente, were on Sunday during a high-level familiarisation tour of the centre located in Malindi in the southeastern Kilifi County.
Prof. Abdulrazak Shaukat, Kenya Principal Secretary for the State Department for Science, Research and Innovation, led the tour.
Speaking at the event, he said during the Italian delegation’s visit, the two countries had agreed to enhance their cooperation and strengthen our partnership in space science and emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), quantum computing and big data as well as biotechnology.
“We are creating a sustainable impact through scientific infrastructure and human capital building and enhancing science diplomacy,” Shaukat said.
The familiarisation tour comes ahead of the Italy–Africa Summit scheduled for Friday in Ethiopia.
“The visit underscores the strategic role that LBMSC plays in advancing space science, technology and innovation for Kenya and the region,” Shaukat said.
Italy and Kenya enjoy a 60-year space partnership centered on the centre, which originally was a launch site.
The collaboration is shifting towards earth observation (EO), satellite manufacturing and high-level technical training.
In recent months, the two countries have boosted collaborations in a number of areas.
Italy’s Infratel and Kenya are collaborating on a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to roll out fibre-optic cables in the latter.
Italian firm, ICM, recently completed the first phase of horizontal infrastructure for Konza Technopolis, Kenya’s first smart city.
President William Ruto is scheduled to visit Italy in April to elevate bilateral ties.
– CAJ News