New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday highlighted New Zealand’s contribution to the success of India’s Chandrayaan 3 mission, saying the country’s space sector played an important role in the historic lunar landing and reflected the growing cooperation between the two nations.
Addressing the Indian diaspora in Auckland, Modi recalled the celebrations that followed Chandrayaan 3’s successful landing near the Moon’s south pole and said the achievement was a moment of pride not only for India but also for New Zealand because of its technological contribution to the mission.
The Prime Minister noted that New Zealand’s space industry has partnered with India on several occasions and expressed confidence that collaboration between the two countries in the sector would continue to expand. He described the space industry as an area with immense potential to strengthen economic and technological ties between India and New Zealand.
Launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation, Chandrayaan 3 achieved a historic soft landing near the Moon’s south pole on August 23, 2023. The mission made India the fourth country to successfully land on the Moon and the first nation to reach the lunar south polar region.
Modi also highlighted the rapid growth of India’s space economy, which is projected to expand from its current value of around $8 to $9 billion to nearly $40 to $45 billion over the next decade. He attributed this growth to policy reforms, increased private sector participation and a thriving innovation ecosystem.
The Prime Minister said India’s progress in space exploration reflects the country’s broader transformation in science and technology, with innovation becoming a key driver of national development.
He added that achievements such as Chandrayaan 3 and the upcoming Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission have strengthened India’s position among the world’s leading spacefaring nations while showcasing the country’s expanding technological capabilities on the global stage.
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