The largest space agency forum in the Asia-Pacific region is coming to Western Australia, with Perth selected to host the 30th annual session of the Asia-Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum (APRSAF-30).
Scheduled for November 2024, APRSAF-30 is expected to attract over 500 attendees from more than 40 countries, including representatives from international space agencies, private industries, government, and research organisations.
APRSAF-30 will be hosted in Perth by the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation and Business Events Perth.
The Australian Space Agency is an active participant of APRSAF and nominated Perth to host the 2024 event.
APRSAF is an annual forum, established in 1993 to enhance space activities and promote cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region. Forums are jointly organised by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) in Japan, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and host countries.
The 28th annual session of the APRSAF was recently held in Hanoi, Vietnam and in 2023 the 29th annual session will be held in Indonesia.
WA’s space industry has gained significant momentum over the past two years, with the WA Government investing more than $40 million to accelerate its growth.
Significant areas of activity and capability include ground-based space communications, space situational awareness, Earth observation and insights, and world-leading remote operations, automation and robotics.
Additionally, the State has emerging capabilities in space mission operations, optical communications, satellite development and launch.
Hosting significant space infrastructure for both civil and defence applications, WA is already home to more than 100 international and Australian organisations operating space and space-related services.
As stated by State Development, Jobs and Trade Minister Roger Cook:
“Western Australia’s space sector is growing rapidly and is being increasingly recognised on the global stage.
“So it is a natural fit to host APRSAF-30 in Perth.
“WA has a track record of successfully supporting space missions, operations and services for more than 60 years, but it will be reaching new heights in 2023 and beyond.
“It is so exciting how much momentum we have in the WA space industry at the moment.
“We look forward to bringing the APRSAF-30 to Perth, which will provide a platform to promote our space capabilities to the Asia-Pacific region, enhance international collaboration, and highlight opportunities for economic diversification.
“Events like APRSAF-30 are WA’s front door for trade and investment. With attendees expected from more than 40 countries, it has the potential to not only provide a boost for the State’s space industry but also regional partnerships and local tourism.”
As stated by Head of the Australian Space Agency Enrico Palermo:
“Hosting APRSAF in 2024 is an opportunity for Australia to further grow our partnerships in the region.
“Space is critical to our national well-being and by working together with our partners in the Indo-Pacific we can develop capabilities that are important to our shared resilience and quality of life.
“Working together will also help us grow our respective space sectors, make them stronger, and achieve our space ambitions faster.”
As stated by Executive Secretariat of APRSAF, Akira Kosaka, JAXA International Relations Division, who recently visited Western Australia:
“APRSAF continues to evolve even after 28th annual sessions. We are very excited and looking forward to holding the first APRSAF in Perth after the establishment of the Australian Space Agency.
“APRSAF is an open forum, with diverse participants from the government sector, research institutes and organisations. In recent years, it has functioned very actively as a forum for exchange with private industries. Working together with the Australian Space Agency and the Government of Western Australia, we would like to incorporate the dynamism of Australia’s space activities into APRSAF.”
