Abidjan Set to Host the 2026 African Space Solutions Market
From July 7 to 9 2026, Ivory Coast’s economic hub will welcome the second edition of the African Space Solutions Market (ASSM). Organizers expect more than 1,200 participants—including government officials, entrepreneurs, researchers, and investors—to converge at the Abidjan Exhibition Center for three days of demonstrations, panel discussions, and networking focused on how space‑based technologies can advance sustainable development across the continent’s development goals across Africa.
Event Overview and Objectives
The ASSM aims to bridge the gap between cutting‑edge space innovations and practical challenges faced by African communities. By bringing together public‑sector agencies, private firms, start‑ups, and academic institutions, the fair seeks to:
- Showcase satellite imagery, geomatics, artificial intelligence, drone systems, and telecommunications solutions.
- Facilitate partnerships that translate space data into actionable services for agriculture, infrastructure, mining, and environmental monitoring.
- Provide a platform for policymakers to discuss regulatory frameworks that support the growth of a domestic space industry.
- Highlight financing mechanisms and investment opportunities for scaling space‑enabled enterprises.
According to the African Union’s Space Policy (2022) and the newly operational African Space Agency (established 2023), leveraging space assets is identified as a priority for achieving the Continental Free Trade Area’s industrialization targets and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Spotlight on Innovative Solutions
Among the exhibitors, Junior Traoré, founder of the Ivorian startup Geofonex, will present the COST Network—a geospatial platform designed to strengthen land‑tenure security for smallholder farmers. Traoré explains:
“The COST Network can be used in several areas of agriculture, especially in land tenure security, which allows every farmer and landowner to know where they stand, what belongs to them and obtain the necessary ownership documents.”
The platform combines high‑resolution satellite imagery with blockchain‑based record‑keeping to reduce disputes and improve access to credit. Early pilots in the Côte d’Ivoire’s cocoa belt have reportedly increased registered farm parcels by 23 % within six months.
Drone Technology in Action
Yao Rahissa, sales representative for Drone Group, will demonstrate how unmanned aerial vehicles are already delivering data‑driven services across multiple sectors:
- Construction: topographic surveys that cut site‑planning time by up to 40 %.
- Mining: volumetric measurements that improve stockpile management safety.
- Agriculture: multispectral imaging that helps optimize fertilizer application and detect early signs of crop stress.
Rahissa notes that the company’s fleet of locally assembled drones has logged over 15,000 flight hours in West Africa since 2022, underscoring a growing regional capacity for endogenous drone manufacturing and maintenance.
Why Abidjan?
Abidjan’s selection as host city reflects Ivory Coast’s strategic investments in digital infrastructure and its role as a logistics gateway for Francophone West Africa. The city’s port handles roughly 60 % of the region’s container traffic, facilitating the import of satellite ground‑station equipment and the export of locally developed space‑tech products. Moreover, the Ivorian government’s 2024 National Space Strategy outlines plans to launch a national Earth‑observation microsatellite by 2028, positioning the country as a regional hub for space‑based services.
Looking Ahead: Space Tech for Sustainable Development
Beyond the exhibition floor, the ASSM will host a series of workshops focused on financing models, capacity‑building programs, and policy dialogues. Participants will explore how satellite‑derived climate data can inform national adaptation plans, how geofencing technologies can protect protected areas, and how broadband satellite constellations can improve connectivity in underserved rural zones.
By translating orbital insights into tangible benefits for farmers, entrepreneurs, and policymakers, the African Space Solutions Market aims to demonstrate that space is not a distant frontier but a practical tool for inclusive growth on the continent.
