February 01, 2002

'13'

    India and Thailand signed here today two agreements for cooperation in Science & Technology and Space. The agreement on S&T provides for the setting up of a Joint Committee for the identification of projects and their implementation. The accord on space envisages technical and commercial cooperation in the field.

    The agreement on Science and Technology was signed between the Minister for Science and Technology, Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi and the Thai Foreign Minister, Dr. Surajkrart Sathirathai, while the accord on Space was signed by the Minister of State for Space, Smt. Vasundhara Raje Scindia and Dr. Sathirathai. Both, Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee and the visiting Thai Premier, Taksin Shinawatra were present.

    The Inter-governmental agreement on Science and Technology will pave the way for strengthening cooperation between the two countries in the area with the participation of academia, research institutes and industry. This will also help strengthen the activities being pursued at present between the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research and the Thai Institute of Scientific and Technical Research. The Agreement also covers environment and transfer of technology. Identification and implementation of Joint Research and Design Projects and exchange of scientists and experts also form part of the agreement.

    The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency of Thailand will be the executing organisations for implementing the agreement on the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes. The Thai Prime Minister visited ISRO when he came to India November last and was impressed by India’s achievements in the field. This was followed by the visit of Thai delegation led by its Minister for Education, Science and Technology and Environment last week. The delegation expressed keen interest for cooperation with India in the area of Space and the same resulted in the signing of today’s Agreement.