March 22, 2016 (JST)

National Research and Development Agency
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)

On March 22, 2016, Dr. Naoki Okumura, President of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and H.E Dr. Khalifa Mohammed Thani Al-Romaithi, Chairman of the Board of Directors for the UAESA, newly signed an “Arrangement between the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and the United Arab Emirates Space Agency regarding Cooperation in Space Activities and Use of Outer Space for Peaceful Purposes” to strengthen the cooperation between JAXA and UAESA.

JAXA have already started cooperation with UAE including JAXA’s microwave discharge neutralizer onboard UAE’s “DubaiSat-2” satellite launched in 2013. The UAESA was newly established in 2014 and has been actively promoting space activities including the Mars exploration mission. With this Arrangement, both agencies intend to develop a mutually beneficial relationship by utilizing technologies and human resources for space exploration and utilization JAXA have accumulated for a long time. The both agencies will discuss further to enhance the cooperation in the areas such as research and development, space applications, utilization of the International Space Station (ISS) “KIBO,” capacity building, and so on.

The signing ceremony of the Agreement was held between the President of JAXA and the Chairman of UAESA in the presence of H.E. Kanji Fujiki, Ambassador of Japan to the UAE.