Pacific

India pledges support for space technology in Pacific

14:53 pm on 24 August 2015

India has pledged support for a space centre in the Pacific island region.

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi says space assets and technology can help in many areas including fisheries, forestry, coastal and ocean studies, climate change and disaster management.

He was speaking at the end of a summit between his country and 14 Pacific island countries in the Indian city of Jaipur.

India's and Fiji's prime ministers, Narendra Modi and Frank Bainimarama Photo: supplied

Mr Modi hailed Fiji's support for its Mars mission in 2014 when Fiji hosted Indian scientists who were tracking the mission.

The Indian leader says India can help establish a Space Technology Applications Centre in any one of the countries in the region.

"We hope to continue receiving support from Pacific Islands for Telemetry, Tracking and Command for our missions in the future..

Narendra Modi says India also wants to set up an Institute for Sustainable Coastal and Ocean Research in the region and a network of marine biology research stations in various island nations.