Ethiopia's Minister of Innovation and Technology, Belete Molla, has highlighted the crucial role of space science and geospatial technologies in driving the nation's economic growth. According to him, the country's achievements include the construction of a state-of-the-art astronomical observatory and the establishment of a fully functional national space agency.
Molla underscored that the country's space program is accelerating development across multiple sectors, including agriculture, industry, and healthcare. He stressed the importance of harnessing the technological capabilities to manage resources effectively, both domestically and in the future space-based economy.
Minister Molla called for enhanced collaboration between institutions focusing on critical areas such as crop monitoring, geodetic infrastructure services, urban and rural development monitoring, water resource management, disaster monitoring, and digital mapping.
Looking to the future, the minister emphasized the vital importance of establishing strong partnerships with universities and secondary schools to inspire young Ethiopians and cultivate a skilled workforce in the fields of space science and geospatial technology.