On 29 July 2025, Planetek Italia had the honor of hosting H.E. Dr. Tidiane Ouattara, Head of the African Space Agency (AFSA), at Planetek’s headquarters in Bari, where he met with Planetek Italia CEO Giovanni Sylos Labini and D-Orbit President Dr. Simonetta Di Pippo, representing our unified group’s shared commitment to supporting Africa’s rapidly growing space sector.

Driving Space-Based Solutions for Africa

This high-level visit opened the door for strategic collaborations aimed at fostering innovation and sustainable growth within Africa’s space ecosystem. Discussions explored:

• Collaborative opportunities with AFSA and African stakeholders to enhance regional capabilities.
• Sustainable Earth Observation (EO) solutions, designed to ensure African ownership and long-term impact.
• Active participation in key strategic events, including the New Space for Africa Conference and the African Space Solutions Market (MASS 2026).

Dr. Ouattara acknowledged the active contributions of both Planetek and D-Orbit to AFSA’s initiatives, particularly their involvement in the New Africa Space Conference 2025 in Cairo and the African Space Solutions Market 2025 in Abidjan.

A Unified Commitment to Africa’s Space Future

During the meeting, Giovanni Sylos Labini and Dr. Simonetta Di Pippo reaffirmed the strong commitment of our group to maintaining active participation in AFSA’s future programs. This dedication reflects a shared vision of Africa as a vital and emerging contributor to the global space sector.

“We don’t want sellers; we want partners who will grow with Africa’s space sector.” – H.E. Dr. Tidiane Ouattara

Paving the Way for Sustainable International Cooperation

This visit marks a significant milestone in strengthening international collaboration between European and African space communities. Leveraging our combined expertise in Earth Observation and in-orbit services, Planetek and D-Orbit are committed to delivering impactful, sustainable solutions that address Africa’s unique challenges while supporting global sustainability goals.

The valuable visit of H.E. Dr. Tidiane Ouattara and the constructive discussions that took place lay the foundation for defining the next phase of our long-term partnership with the African Space Agency.

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