India Invites Russian Firms to Invest in Space Innovation Projects

India has invited Russian enterprises to invest in its burgeoning space sector, stressing the new developments in innovation and technology. Ambassador Vinay Kumar made the call to celebrate the second National Space Day at the Indian Embassy in Moscow. 

“The Government of India is putting out attractive schemes to create a favorable climate for the space market,” Kumar said, noting the Indian deal flow has huge potential for collaboration and growth. 

"It is significant because National Space Day celebrates the successes of our space industry,” he explained, citing the successful landing of the Pragyan Rover to the Moon as part of the Chandrayaan-3 mission on August 23, 2023. National Space Day is celebrated annually.

Kumar also reminded the audience about the long and deep history of space collaboration between the two countries. He recalled when India's first satellite, Aryabhata was launched on a Soviet rocket in 1975, and also in 1984, Rakesh Sharma's historic journey aboard Soyuz T-11 and how the collaboration continues today with India’s Gaganyaan human spaceflight program being developed by India and Russia. 

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Representatives and officials from Russia’s space agency Roscosmos, which is a significant partner of ISRO, attended the event underscoring the long-standing relationship of the two space agencies and the two nations overall. 

Kumar linked the present to India's cultural heritage by noting that although the space industry may be new, space has been studied in India since the Vedic period. "In this tradition, thinkers like Aryabhata studied celestial phenomena and their influence in our earthly life. Today, space pervades our lives from communication to navigation," he said. 

The event also included cultural performances by students of Kendriya Vidyalaya run by the Embassy and members of the Jawaharlal Nehru Cultural Centre reflecting the growing interest in space science among students and young people.