India offers to share its expertise in space sector with Cambodia
India is ready to share its expertise and experience in the space sector with Cambodia, according to the Indian Ambassador to Cambodia, Devyani Khobragade. She made this offer during a meeting with the Cambodian Minister of Posts and Telecommunications, Chea Vandeth, on January 13, 2023.
The ambassador said that India has a long history of achievements in the space sector, such as launching satellites, sending probes to the moon and Mars, and developing applications for various sectors. She said that India is willing to cooperate with Cambodia in areas such as satellite communication, remote sensing, navigation, and space education.
The minister welcomed the offer and expressed his appreciation for India’s support and assistance to Cambodia in various fields. He said that Cambodia is interested in developing its capacity and potential in the space sector, which is important for the country’s socio-economic development. He also said that Cambodia hopes to learn from India’s experience and best practices in this field.
India and Cambodia have a strong bilateral relationship
India and Cambodia have a strong bilateral relationship that dates back to ancient times. The two countries share cultural, religious, and historical ties, as well as common values of democracy and pluralism. The two countries have also cooperated in various fields such as trade, investment, education, health, agriculture, defense, and culture.
In 2022, the two countries celebrated the 70th anniversary of their diplomatic relations. The Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen exchanged congratulatory messages on this occasion. They also reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthen their strategic partnership and enhance their cooperation in regional and international forums.
India has also been a key partner of Cambodia in its development efforts. India has provided concessional loans, grants, scholarships, training programs, and humanitarian assistance to Cambodia. India has also supported Cambodia’s reconstruction and restoration of its cultural heritage, especially the Angkor Wat temple complex.
India has a robust space program
India has a robust space program that is managed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). ISRO was established in 1969 and has since achieved many milestones in the field of space exploration and technology. Some of its notable achievements are:
- Launching more than 100 satellites for various purposes such as communication, earth observation, navigation, meteorology, and astronomy.
- Developing indigenous launch vehicles such as PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle) and GSLV (Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle) that can launch satellites into different orbits.
- Sending successful missions to the moon (Chandrayaan-1 and Chandrayaan-2) and Mars (Mangalyaan or Mars Orbiter Mission), making India one of the few countries to do so.
- Developing applications of space technology for various sectors such as agriculture, disaster management, education, health, urban planning, and governance.
- Participating in international collaborations such as the International Space Station (ISS), the International Solar Alliance (ISA), and the Global Positioning System (GPS) augmentation system.
India has also been sharing its expertise and experience in the space sector with other countries, especially developing countries. India has launched satellites for several countries such as Algeria, Canada, Germany, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, and the United States. India has also trained personnel from many countries in space science and technology through its Centre for Space Science and Technology Education in Asia and the Pacific (CSSTEAP). India has also offered to launch satellites for the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), including Cambodia.
