< Korea, UAE Sign MOU for Space Partnership > (January 31)
- Both governments agree to cooperation on space exploration
The Ministry and the UAE Space Agency signed a "memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning of the Republic of Korea and the Space Agency of the United Arab Emirates for the peaceful development and utilization of space", on January 31 in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
The signing ceremony was a follow up to the discussion on space cooperation that took place during the summit meeting with the UAE in March, 2015, and was held in Abu Dhabi during the Global Space Congress (January 31 to February 1) after an official invitation was extended by the chairman of the UAE Space Agency.
Vice-minister Choi Yang-hee, who attended the signing ceremony, sad that "international cooperation is an indispensible element in space development, and the signing of the MOU will further cement the close partnership between our two countries."
Chairman of the UAE Space Agency Khalifa Mohamed Al Romaithi said, "Korea is an important partner for the UAE's space development program, and the MOU will help further expand our partnership by mutually sharing our knowledge and experience in space research and exploration."
With the signing of the MOU, the two parties agreed to increase cooperation in space science and technology development and application, exchange views on space policies, laws and regulations, and boost partnership in human resource development. The Korean government will work to identify new partnerships that will maximize space development synergy between the two countries, based on the provisions of the latest MOU as well as partnership initiatives carried out to date.
On the same day, the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) and the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Center (MBRSC) signed an MOU for cooperation in space-related activities that will develop working-level partnerships based on the MOU between the two governments.