Prime Minister meets His Highness Prince Rahim Aga Khan V, discusses Strengthening Partnership with Aga Khan Development Network

My friend President Macron, Excellencies, Distinguished participants, Namaskar!

I am happy to be a part of the first International Space Summit. I thank President Macron for his gracious invitation and for taking this timely initiative. For centuries, space inspired our imagination. Today, it shapes life on Earth, from climate and crops to oceans and communities. The promise of space is infinite. Our responsibility is collective. As orbits become more crowded technologies more powerful, and actors more numerous our choices must be clear: cooperation over confrontation sustainability over short-term gain; and inclusion over exclusion.

Friends,

India’s approach is rooted in Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, that is One Earth, One Family, One Future. This spirit must now travel beyond Earth. We support a safe, secure, peaceful and sustainable space domain anchored in international law, dialogue and multilateral cooperation. Scientific data must serve the common good, with openness and integrity.

India’s space journey reflects this philosophy. ISRO, which stands at the heart of this journey, has earned global admiration for its excellence and cost-effective missions. Its capabilities serve farmers and fishermen, weather forecasting, disaster management and navigation. More than 430 satellites from 34 countries have travelled to space aboard Indian rockets. ISRO’s technologies and partnerships serve not only India, but the wider world.

Behind this global trust is the dedication and hard work of generations of Indian scientists, engineers and technicians. Working day and night, they have built ISRO’s global reputation mission by mission, success by success, and given India a place of pride among spacefaring nations.

Chandrayan-3 made India the first nation to land near the lunar south pole. Aditya-L1 is unlocking the secrets of the Sun. Last year, an Indian visited the International Space Station. Looking ahead, we aim to establish an Indian space station by 2035 and send an Indian to the Moon by 2040. In all these efforts, our guiding principle has been clear: their benefits must reach all humanity.

Alongside ISRO, India’s private space sector is also surging in a big way. The energy of enterprise is joining the excellence of ISRO. France has been a trusted partner since the Indian space program began at Thumba in the 1960s. Today, our cooperation spans Earth observation and advanced technologies, uniting scientific excellence with human purpose. We invite France and the world to be co-travellers in India’s next space frontier.

Friends,

Let the Space Summit in Paris send a clear message: we will explore together, innovate together and protect space together, for all humanity, and for generations to come. I convey my best wishes to all the participants.

Thank you.