For the Italian Foreign Ministry “supporting the entire system that fosters the development of space initiatives is a key priority”, in view of the sector’s “essential role in an increasingly global economy and its impact on international relations in the sector”.
The points were underscored by the Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Michele Valensise, in his address to the Italian Society for International Organization (SIOI) at an event introducing the Masters in Space Institutions and Policies. “Advances in exploration cannot be achieved without a coordinated multilateral effort”, explained Valensise, who also underscored the importance, for Italy, of bilateral dialogue.
In this sector, “our most promising partner is the USA, with which we hope to sign an inter-governmental agreement on space collaboration to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the collaboration between NASA and the Italian Space Agency”. The anniversary falls in March 2013.
As the Secretary General underscored, the importance of space exploration and research also lies in its impact on industry. Here, “innovation, research and support for enterprise are three pillars of Italian foreign policy, not least because we are convinced that international cooperation is an extraordinary driver of opportunities for our businesses, and thus for growth”.
