At an event on “Building the Space Ecosystem in Southeast Asia,” in Jakarta on Tuesday, BRIN’s deputy for development policy, Anugerah Widiyanto, emphasized the importance of building an inclusive and sustainable space sector in Southeast Asia.
The event was organized by the ASEAN Sub-Committee on Space Technology and Applications (SCOSA), Indonesia.
“Every satellite launch is not only a technical achievement, but also a step forward to build a competitive space economy in Southeast Asia,” he said.
He also encouraged the involvement of private companies in efforts to build the space ecosystem in the region, saying it is the key to accelerating the task.
Indonesia, he said, has felt the benefits of the space economy since 1976 through the operation of communication satellites in geosynchronous orbit (GSO).
However, Widiyanto said that BRIN is still facing a number of challenges, starting from technological inequality to limited resources. This is a problem that must be addressed using a multidimensional approach, including the formulation of regional regulations, he added.
“ASEAN member countries, as a collective entity, still do not have regulations that specifically regulate sensitive space technology,” he noted.
He then called for ASEAN SCOSA cooperation in this regard. He emphasized five main priorities: talent development, legal strengthening, technological innovation, regional partnerships, and collaborative funding.
These are expected to support the birth of a resilient ASEAN space ecosystem.
In response, the CEO of Strategic ASEAN International Advocacy & Consultancy, Shaanti Shamdasani, said the SCOSA event could be the main forum for sharing insights, experiences, and updates on the regional space sector.
It could also help identify gaps, challenges, and opportunities, she added.
“We believe that ASEAN is in a good position through a unified policy vision to take a leading role in building an inclusive and sustainable space ecosystem,” Shamdasani said.
The event was held as part of a series of activities of the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Science, Technology, and Innovation (AMMSTI) and the Committee on Science, Technology, and Innovation (COSTI) 2025.
The SCOSA event, which serves as the main forum for cooperation between ASEAN countries in the fields of science, technology, and innovation, is being held from June 16–20, 2025, in Jakarta.
Translator: Sean Filo Muhamad, Cindy Frishanti Octavia
Editor: Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono
Copyright © ANTARA 2025
