Article Posted on : - Oct 25, 2009

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh joins hands with Leaders of ASEAN countries during a photo session at the 7th ASEAN-India Summit in Hua Hin, Thailand on Saturday. Image credit: PTI

CHA-AM HUA HIN (PTI): India has offered to help southeast Asian nations in management of natural disasters by sharing satellite data for the region and launch small satellites built by them.

“We would be ready to share satellite data for management of natural disasters, launch small satellites and scientific instruments and payloads for experiments in remote sensing and communication for space agencies and academic institutions in ASEAN countries,” Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said here on Saturday.

He was addressing the Seventh India-ASEAN Summit in this scenic Thai beach resort town with the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

The Indian Space Research Centre (ISRO) has one of the largest constellations of advanced remote sensing satellites in the world which orbit the earth at regular intervals.

Images of the earth received from these satellites can be utilised for disaster management initiatives in the ASEAN region, parts of which are prone to cyclones and earthquakes.

In addition, the Prime Minister said, India would be happy to participate in projects under the ASEAN's Work Plan for 2010-15 in areas such as education, energy, agriculture and forestry, and small and medium enterprises.

Singh also offered ASEAN nations enhanced cooperation in agriculture sector with a view to meeting the challenges of food security.

India will host a meeting of agriculture ministers of ASEAN countries next year where efforts will be made to identify specific areas of cooperation, including extension services.

Some ASEAN countries have been partnering international efforts to develop a tsunami warning system for the Indian Ocean Region.

The Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning System (IOWTS) was tested by 18 countries recently as part of a multi-national drill to gauge preparedness for the next time killer waves strike the region.

Of the 18 countries, India, Indonesia and Australia have established advance warning systems and have been exchanging bulletins on a regular basis.