During the 75th International Astronautical Congress (IAC) currently taking place in Antalya, Türkiye, delegates from 21 nations have officially endorsed the Antalya Declaration. Announced by Industry and Technology Minister Mehmet Fatih Kacir, the agreement represents the first time a formal joint declaration has been adopted at the congress's Ministers and Members of Parliament Meeting (MMoP).
The declaration was accepted by 32 participants, a group that included government ministers, lawmakers, and heads of national space agencies. The text of the agreement reaffirms the commitment of the International Astronautical Federation (IAF) to expanding global partnerships in the space sector. The high-level session, which runs from October 5 to 9, gathered delegations from 38 countries to engage in discussions regarding the peaceful use of outer space, the development of legal frameworks, emerging space missions, and the integration of developing economies into the global industry. The congress is coordinated by the Ministry of Industry and Technology alongside co-hosts SAHA Istanbul and the Turkish Space Agency.
Minister Kacir noted that the declaration aligns with the diplomatic vision of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, which emphasizes fostering peace through constructive engagement and multilateral dialogue. During the event, Kacir remarked that progress in space is only meaningful if it results in tangible benefits for people on Earth, adding that the international community must focus on how to transform technological capabilities into greater prosperity, security, and societal resilience.
The session also addressed the rapid commercialization of the space industry, which reached a record valuation of $686 billion in 2025, with commercial ventures representing approximately 80 percent of all activity. According to Kacir, reduced launch costs and the advent of smaller satellites have lowered entry barriers for new startups. Within Türkiye, the government is fostering this growth through its BiGG seed-funding mechanism and venture capital initiatives totaling over $750 million, supporting more than 300 space-technology enterprises in domestic technoparks.
Ankara is also advancing its own infrastructure, including the development of a dedicated space technopark. Furthermore, the nation remains on schedule for its first domestically developed lunar spacecraft mission in early 2027, which will feature an indigenous hybrid propulsion engine and an 80 percent domestic production rate.
