Bangalore - In a bid to broaden India's collaborative horizons with Oman and Mauritius, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is actively engaged with their respective space agencies to facilitate the construction and launch of satellites. This initiative aims to extend the benefits of space applications and space-derived services to these nations.

Under the guidance of Chairman Dr. S. Somanath, ISRO's leadership recently hosted delegations from Oman and Mauritius at the organization's Bengaluru facilities, renowned as India's aerospace hub.

During discussions with Said Hamood Said Al Maawali, Oman's Minister of Transport, Communication, and Information Technology (MTCIT), the ISRO team explored opportunities to jointly build and launch satellites for Oman. The talks also encompassed establishing a ground station and potentially conducting experimental sounding rocket launches from Oman.

A notable achievement during the meeting was the launch of a web-based Geographic Information Systems Portal, developed by ISRO specifically for the Sultanate of Oman. This portal incorporates satellite data, geospatial layers, and value-added services, showcasing its applicability across diverse domains such as agriculture, fisheries, water conservation, urban planning, climate and ocean studies, disaster management, and governance.

With Darsanand Balgobin, Mauritius' Minister for Information Technology, Communication, and Innovation (MITCI), ISRO deliberated on the concept of a collaborative India-Mauritius satellite. Designed as a microsatellite for remote sensing from low earth orbit, this project holds great promise.

The discussions also revolved around plans to provide training for Mauritian officials across three domains: satellite construction, satellite operation, and effective utilization of the acquired satellite data for various applications.

Furthermore, the meeting served as a platform to expand the scope of India-Mauritius space cooperation. This expansion includes sharing Indian remote sensing satellite data relevant to Mauritius' territory, the development of an 'India-Mauritius space portal' housing satellite data, geospatial layers, and value-added services tailored to Mauritius' needs, and discussions about potential collaborations within the space industry, as highlighted by ISRO.