Under the patronage of His Excellency Mr. Samir Abdullah Nas, President of Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and in cooperation with National Space Science Agency (NSSA), The first dialogue session with Dr. Bassam Elfeily, the first Arab entrepreneur in space sector has been held, to explore the best ways and means of investment in the space sector.
During the session, H.E Mr. Samir Abdullah Nas, President of Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry, mentioned that National Space Science Agency (NSSA) has signed a number of memoranda of understanding (MOUs) with international space agencies on strengthening cooperation in the field of peaceful uses of outer space, and highlighted the importance of investment in the space sector as one of the future economic development pillars, to achieve objectives of the fourth industrial revolution, stressing on the necessary of promoting innovation in entrepreneurship through scientific and technological progress in economic fields to achieve Bahrain`s Vision 2030.
For his part, H.E Dr. Muhammed Elasseiry, CEO of National Space Science Agency (NSSA), urged small- and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to benefit from investment opportunities offered by the space sector, and pointed out that space techniques have become available to everyone more than ever before, and need to be properly harnessed, turning it into a profitable business capable of driving economic growth.
Dr. Bassam Elfeily, the first Arab entrepreneur in space sector, gave a presentation on “the importance of investment in space science”, reviewing current and future investment opportunities and highlighting the new notion of space & the role of private sector in supporting government efforts, providing examples on European and American cases. Then turned to discuss his personal experience in the establishment of orbital space enterprise and projects implemented, in particular: launching Kuwait Satellite and the projects that had emerged from it.