Baku, February 27 (AZERTAC). A two-day workshop dedicated to Azerbaijan - Japan space sector has opened at the Hilton Hotel in Baku.

The event is attended by representatives of 17 corporations and organizations from the Japanese side (30 reps) and 24 Azerbaijani organizations (40 delegates).

The aim of the workshop is to share and exchange the information between Japanese and Azerbaijani counterparts regarding space programs in Azerbaijan and Japan, Japan`s space related service and products (e.g. satellites, rockets, earth observation and telecommunication technologies), space utilization in Azerbaijan, demand and needs for utilizing satellite images.

Addressing the event, Senior Vice President at Mitsubishi Electric Corporation Takashi Sasakawa highlighted Japan`s work in aerospace field. He stressed the importance of the workshop, saying “it will contribute to further cooperation and promotion of diversified economic relations, as well as strengthen friendship and partnership relations between Japan and Azerbaijan”.

Azerbaijani Information and Communications Technologies Minister Ali Abbasov said the ICT industry reached a qualitatively new level in his country. “At a time of global financial and economic downturn, when the economic “giants” of the world are cutting back on many large-scale projects, Azerbaijan successfully launched first communications satellite.”

Minister Abbasov praised achievements of the Japanese government in ICT sector. He stressed Azercosmos planned to launch a low-Earth orbit satellite in 2014, and Azerspace-2 satellite in 2016 as well.

“The ICT sector in the years 2004-2013 expanded almost twice every three years in the country. In accordance with the concept of “Azerbaijan 2020: A Look into the Future” our goal is to create high-tech products and services, as well as develop non-oil sector including this field. Azerbaijan attaches great importance to the Asian Market in these fields,” the Azerbaijani Minister noted.

The Japanese delegation is composed of representatives of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (MELCO), Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd (MHI), Nippon Electric Corporation, IHI Corporation, IHI Aerospace Co., PASCO, Japan Manned Space Systems Corporation (JAMSS) , Corporations Mitsubishi, Sumitomo, Itochu, Japan Space Forum (JSF), Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA),Japan Space Systems (J-space systems), Remote Sensing Technology Center of Japan (RESTEC), the Society of Japanese Aerospace Companies (SJAC).

Azerbaijan`s delegation includes representatives of AZPROMO, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Emergency Situations, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Industry & Energy, Ministry of Education, Intellectual Management Center of Transport (NIIM), National Hydrometeorology Department, Academy of Sciences, Aviation Academy, Diplomatic Academy, Baku University, the Citizen Service Centre ASAN, the State Committee for Land and Cartography, Oil Fund, National Aerospace Agency, Centre for Strategic Studies (SAM), AzerCosmos, High-Tech Park (YTP), of RISK, Sinam, Ultra and CaspianNavTel.

Co-organizers of the workshop is Azerbaijan`s Ministry of Information and Communication Technologies, Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and Japanese embassy to Azerbaijan.

As a part of the workshop the Japanese delegation will meet Azerbaijani officials and visit the Terrestrial Satellite Control Center.