The Russian state space company Roscosmos intends to sign agreements on cooperation with African countries at the Russia–Africa Forum, the press service of the corporation said.
"The agreement between African countries and Roscosmos is to be signed at the upcoming St. Petersburg forum [Russia–Africa Forum] on July 27-28," the statement said.
On June 25, a Roscosmos delegation headed by General Director Yuri Borisov visited Egypt.
Heads of the two countries' space agencies considered requirements for further bilateral cooperation in space research and exploration, production and launch of spacecraft, development of manned space program and ground space infrastructure.
Roscosmos is touring Africa in the run-up to the summit, the press service said.
"Ahead of the forum we agreed with a partner from the Egyptian agency that we would draft a full-scope agreement covering a wide range of possible cooperation in the space industry," Borisov noted.
The CEO added that space projects are extremely expensive and technologically complex, thus they can be fully implemented "only in partnership with other countries."
Sherif Sedky, head of the Egyptian Space Agency, spoke highly the prospects for cooperation with Russia.
"We discussed possible ways of cooperation and are fully confident that we will build long-term reliable cooperation not only between the space agencies of the two countries, but also on the scale of the African Space Agency," Sedky said.
In response, Borisov stated that Russia is ready to help the member countries of the African Space Agency to build launch facilities and develop its own line of carrier rockets.
In mid-June, Humbulani Mudau, executive director of the South African National Space Agency, said that South Africa is open to cooperation with Russia in space.
He also announced the launch of a pan-African space agency headquartered in Cairo, which will coordinate the continent's own space programs.