Narendra Modi Asks ISRO To Develop Satellite For SAARC Nations

In order to play an active role in the development of the SAARC region, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today (June 30) asked Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to develop a satellite which can be dedicated as a 'gift' to the neighbours.

In his address after witnessing the successful launch of five foreign satellites from Sriharikota on board ISRO's PSLV C-23 rocket, he said, "Today I ask you, the space community, to take up the challenge of developing a SAARC satellite that we can dedicate to our neighbourhood as a gift from India."

The prime minister asked the scientists at the Indian space agency to work on a satellite that would provide full range of applications and services to all of India's neighbours. "Such a satellite will be helpful in SAARC nations' fight against poverty and illiteracy, the challenge to progress in scientific field, and will open up avenues to provide opportunities to the youth of SAARC countries," he said from ISRO's Mission Control Room.

Narendra Modi asserted that the 'dream' for such a satellite will be useful for the development of all SAARC nations with India playing a key role in that. Modi’s speech was laced with anecdotes and delivered in a mix of English and Hindi.
[Image: Press Information Bureau (PIB)]