Djibouti recently signed a deal with the Hong Kong Aerospace Technology Group. This deal allows Hong Kong Aerospace Technology Group to build a launching site for satellites and rockets in the country.

The deal is a preliminary agreement with Hong Kong Aerospace Technology Group to build a facility for the launching of satellites and rockets in the eastern region of Africa. 

The delegation of the Hong Kong space arrived in Djibouti on the 7th of January 2023 to evaluate the potential partnership between both nations. The Chinese ambassador to Djibouti, Hu Bin met with the Vice President of the group, Allen Fund and other members of the delegation. 

The project which is estimated to cost about $1 billion will also involve the construction of a port and highway in the Northern Obock Region for the transport of materials necessary for the development of aerospace sites. The signing of the deal was presided over by the president of Djibouti, Ismail Omar Guelleh who also said that the project should be completed in the next five years. Ismail Omar Guelleh also said “the agreement provides for the final concession of the infrastructure built to the Djiboutian side after 30 years of co-management”. 

According to The Hong Kong Aerospace Technology Group, Ambassador Hu Bin expressed his affirmation for the cooperation of HKATG in Djibouti and encouraged the enterprise to strengthen feasible research, establish a firm awareness of compliance, balance corporate interests and social responsibilities, promote diversified economic development of Djibouti and contribute to Sino-Djibouti cooperation. He also guaranteed that the embassy will actively provide the necessary support and guarantee. 

This is a major deal to Djibouti and apparently not the only major deal Djibouti has signed this year as they also became the latest member to sign the Treaty on the prohibition of Nuclear Weapons at the UN headquarters in New York on the 9th of January, 2023.