OFFICIAL VISIT OF H.E. MS. PATTARAT HONGTONG, AMBASSADOR OF THAILAND TO ISRO/DEPARTMENT OF SPACE
Her Excellency Ms. Pattarat Hongtong, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Thailand to the Republic of India, visited the U R Rao Satellite Centre (URSC) in Bengaluru on June 25, 2024. The meeting was attended by Shri Somanath S., Chairman, ISRO/Secretary, Department of Space, Shri M. Sankaran, Director, URSC, Mr. Racha Aribarg, Consul-General of Thailand (at Chennai), and other senior ISRO officials and Thailand diplomats.
During the meeting, Chairman Shri Somanath S. emphasized the potential benefits of space technology in various sectors, including agriculture, oceanography, disaster management, and cartography. He also highlighted Thailand's participation in ISRO's capacity-building programs, which aim to promote the utilization of space technology.
Ambassador Hongtong expressed Thailand's keen interest in furthering space collaboration with India, citing the country's impressive achievements in space technology, particularly the recent successful missions of Chandrayaan-3 and Aditya-L1. She noted that these milestones have generated significant enthusiasm among the Thai public.
The discussion also focused on upcoming milestones in bilateral space relations, including the launch of THEOS-2A satellite on-board India's PSLV later this year. This development is expected to pave the way for enhanced engagements among stakeholders of both nations' space ecosystem.
Chairman Somanath suggested that Thailand could benefit from the scientific data emanating from the G20 Satellite Mission for Environment and Climate Observation. This collaborative effort aims to promote sustainable development and address environmental challenges.
The meeting concluded on a positive note, with both parties reaffirming their commitment to continue working together to enhance bilateral space collaboration. This official visit marks a significant step towards strengthening Indo-Thailand space cooperation, paving the way for future collaborations.
The meeting underscored India's interest in deepening engagements with Southeast Asian nations, particularly Thailand, and ISRO's readiness to support Thailand in the field of space. As the space agencies of both countries continue to explore opportunities for cooperation, this partnership is poised to yield meaningful outcomes in the years to come.
