Building the Rwandan space economy

The African continent has been steadily increasing its investments in the space industry in recent years, with the space economy in Africa currently amounting to only $19 billion out of the global total of $469 billion. Rwanda is positioning itself to play a significant role in the development of the space ecosystem in Africa. In a recent interview with Joseph Abakunda, Chief Strategy Officer at Rwanda Space Agency, key insights were shared on the country's approach to building a thriving space economy. Abakunda highlighted the potential for Africa to increase its share of the global space economy by focusing on downstream applications, partnerships, policy implications, and private sector engagement. The interview delved into Rwanda's strategies for developing a sustainable space ecosystem and the country's participation in international initiatives such as the Artemis Accords. As Rwanda advances its space ambitions, collaborations with various stakeholders from around the world are shaping the future of the African space industry. With a strong emphasis on leveraging data and innovation, Rwanda's journey towards building a robust space economy holds promise for the continent's technological advancement and economic growth.