The Korea AeroSpace Administration is working to widen its relationship with Saudi Arabia from education into commercial space, after a meeting in Seoul between KASA Administrator Oh Tae-seok and Haitham AlOhali, governor of the Communications, Space and Technology Commission and a board member of the Saudi Space Agency.
The two met on Wednesday at Government Complex Seoul.
What exists now
The concrete piece of cooperation is a joint space education programme for Saudi university students, run by KASA with the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology from July 27 to August 14. Talks covered education, technology and commercial development, with both sides interested in extending the relationship beyond training.
Why now
Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 programme is building a domestic space sector largely from scratch, which creates demand for capabilities Korean firms already have. Oh said closer cooperation between the two governments could help Korean space companies form business ties and enter the emerging Saudi market more smoothly.
That is the familiar shape of this kind of diplomacy. Government agreements do not win contracts by themselves, but they lower the barrier for companies that would otherwise arrive with no standing in a market where the state directs most spending.
No agreements were signed at the meeting. KASA said it will keep broadening cooperation with Saudi Arabia and support Korean space firms looking to expand in the Middle East.