Iraq coordinating with France to launch its space agency, satellite

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) Iraq is arranging with France to launch its space agency and a satellite, local media quoted a government official saying.

State-run al-Sabaah newspaper quoted Amir al-Bayati, a secretary general of the telecommunication ministry, saying the ministry is coordinating with the French government and Airbus company to complete the stalled space agency and satellite projects.

Bayati pointed that the satellite will serve in the security, economic, agricultural, industrial, environmental and military purposes.

The official said the ministry had agreed with French companies to write down a memorandum of understanding in that respect, revealing that the ministry has opened its space affairs department  to serve as a starting point for the space agency project.

He pointed to plans to obtain a loan from the French government to finance the continuation of the project and other security projects, which the ministry had declared was stalled due to financing issues.