Cabinet nod to MoU with Nigeria on cooperation in exploration of outer space

New Delhi, October 22: In a major development, the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister, Narendra Mod on Wednesday approves the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between India and Nigeria on cooperation in exploration and uses of outer space for peaceful purposes.

 

The MoU was signed between the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) at Bengaluru in June and by the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) of Nigeria at Abuja in August.

 

This MoU would lead to set up a Joint Working Group, drawing members from the Department of Space (DOS)/ISRO and National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) of Nigeria, which will further work out the plan of action including the time-frame and the means of implementation.

 

The release said India and Nigeria have been trying to have formal space cooperation for more than a decade.

 

It said that with the initiatives from the Indian High Commission to Nigeria, a draft inter-Governmental MoU for space cooperation was shared with Nigerian authorities through the Ministry of External Affairs.

 

This will provide impetus to explore newer research activities and application possibilities in the field of remote sensing of the earth like satellite communication, satellite navigation, space science, and exploration of outer space.