Thailand is showcasing its capabilities on the regional space stage by hosting the 32nd Asia-Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum (APRSAF-32). The forum serves as a premier regional platform for space agencies, policymakers, academics, researchers, and partners across the Asia-Pacific to exchange views and drive sustainable cooperation. The event takes place from October 26-28, 2026 at the Royal Orchid Sheraton Riverside Hotel, Bangkok, and continues from October 29-30, 2026 on the 7th Floor, ICONSIAM Hall.
Organized under the theme "Bridging the Asia-Pacific: Advancing a Trusted and Inclusive Space Future," the event is co-hosted by the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (Public Organization) or GISTDA under the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI), Thailand, alongside Japan's Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).
Dr. Pakorn Apaphant, Executive Director of GISTDA, stated "Bringing APRSAF back to Thailand after 16 years represents an invaluable space milestone that connects Thailand to the international arenaranging from policy planning to concrete implementation. This encompasses satellite data sharing for disaster management, joint workforce development, collaborative research, and the responsible, sustainable utilization of space. Hosting the event in Thailand also allows more Thai nationals to participate, expanding opportunities to create tangible benefits for the nation.
This year, APRSAF-32 centers around the theme 'Bridging the Asia-Pacific: Advancing a Trusted and Inclusive Space Future,' which holds critical importance across three key dimensions:
- Bridging the Asia-Pacific: Fostering deeper integration not only among member nations but also connecting the Asia-Pacific region to the global space community. By linking infrastructure, data, and human resources, we can build an interconnected ecosystem that leaves no one behind.
- Trusted: In an increasingly fragile and divided global landscape, space has become a strategic geopolitical domain. Building strategic trust is no longer optionalit is essential. Trust calls on us to move beyond competition toward transparency, mutual reliability, adherence to international norms, open dialogue, and responsible management of space capabilities.
- An Inclusive Space Future: Space is no longer the exclusive domain of a few major entities. Inclusive participation means APRSAF-32 serves as a true platform for all sectorsstartups, established industries, academic institutions, youth, and civil societyto join the table and shape our collective space future.
The APRSAF-32 platform converts this spirit of inclusion into practical action. A clear demonstration of this is our integration with Thailand Space Expo, featuring joint exhibitions and integrated panel sessions connecting government missions with commercial innovations. Furthermore, hosting APRSAF-32 back-to-back with the Moon Village Association Symposium creates a direct link between regional Earth observation and Low Earth Orbit (LEO) initiatives and lunar exploration, our next frontier."
"By driving progress at both policy and expert levels, APRSAF-32 aims well beyond exchanges in meeting rooms; it lays the foundation for ongoing post-conference cooperation. This includes using space data to tackle climate change and natural disasters, developing technology and research, establishing standards that facilitate cross-border collaboration, and building the next generation of space talent. For Thailand, serving as the host country is a vital opportunity to showcase our potential as a 'Bridge'linking ASEAN to the global space network and connecting space technology to real-world development challenges," Dr. Pakorn concluded.