U.S. Delegation Celebrates Launch of African Space Agency, Promotes U.S.-Egypt Cooperation During NewSpace Africa Conference

U.S. Ambassador to Egypt Herro Mustafa Garg, U.S. Ambassador to the African Union Stephanie Sullivan, NASA Associate Administrator Karen Feldstein, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Juan Caro, Brigadier General Jacob Middleton, and other U.S. government officials attended the inauguration of the African Space Agency, highlighting the United States’ whole-of-government approach to deepening cooperation in space with Egyptian and African partners.

U.S. Ambassador Herro Mustafa Garg and U.S. delegation members also participated in the NewSpace Africa Conference held at the Egyptian Space Agency organized by Space in Africa. 

The event brought together over 500 delegates from 65 countries – including heads of African space agencies and representatives from international governments. 

During the conference, Ambassador Mustafa Garg partnered with representatives from U.S. private sector companies including Princeton Satellite Systems, Maxar Intelligence, HawkEye 360, Astranis, Cisco, Viasat, Slingshot Aerospace, and Hayes Group International to showcase U.S. excellence in space and advance shared objectives in Egypt and across the continent. 

 Ambassador Mustafa Garg also visited the U.S. pavilion in the conference exhibition hall, where U.S. exhibitors celebrated the expanding collaboration between the United States and Egypt in commercial space innovation.

“You are all innovators and are demonstrating that the United States is the global leader in space,” Ambassador Mustafa Garg stated during her visit. “Egypt has developed an ambitious plan to grow its space industry, and the U.S. Embassy is ready to support your efforts. When the U.S. government, U.S. companies, and Egypt work together, we promote shared prosperity and embrace our limitless potential.”

On Wednesday, Ambassador Mustafa Garg hosted a press conference at the U.S. Embassy with representatives from participating U.S. aerospace companies and members of the media. 

Ambassador Mustafa Garg and private sector representatives highlighted opportunities for bilateral cooperation and mutual benefit in the growing space sector.

As part of the U.S. presence at the conference and launch events, the U.S. Embassy in Cairo also arranged for the CEO of the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, Dr. Kimberly Robinson, to engage audiences in Alexandria, Cairo, and Ain Sokhna — including at Bibliothèque Alexandrina, Galala University, and with NASA Space Apps Challenge Egyptian alumni. 

 With more than 30 years of experience with NASA, Dr. Robinson underscored U.S. excellence in space innovation and emphasized the U.S. desire to collaborate with Egyptian and African partners.

Demonstrating the United States’ commitment to African space partnerships, the U.S. government presence at the conference included high-level delegates from the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Department of Commerce, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the U.S. Space Forces Europe and Africa.