India’s junior space minister Jitendra Singh urged BRICS nations to forge a ‘Brics Space Economy,’
BENGALURU: Calling space the next frontier of global economic growth, junior space minister Jitendra Singh Wednesday urged Brics nations to work together to build a “Brics Space Economy”, arguing that no single country can shape the future of the sector alone.Addressing the valedictory session of the Brics Heads of Space Agencies (Hosa) meeting in Bengaluru, Singh said the bloc possesses the scientific expertise, technological capabilities and industrial strength needed to emerge as a major force in the rapidly expanding global space economy.“The future of the space economy will not be shaped by nations working in isolation. It will be shaped by partnerships, shared innovation and collective ambition,” Singh said. “Brics countries have the potential to become one of the strongest pillars of this emerging global space ecosystem.”Isro chairman V Narayanan said: “A total of 26 delegates from 10 countries participated. There were extensive discussions on the utilisation of the Brics Remote Sensing Satellite Constellation (RSSC) for the socio-economic benefit of member countries, including applications in disaster management, climate change monitoring, and other areas.” “We also discussed debris-free mission management systems to ensure the long-term sustainability of space activities. It was a very productive meeting. Along with the five Brics nations, five more countries were part of this initiative,” he added.The two-day meeting, hosted by Isro under India’s Brics Chairship 2026, brought together heads of space agencies and senior officials from Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates.At a time when countries are increasingly looking to space-based technologies for economic and developmental gains, Singh positioned cooperation among Brics members as a pathway to innovation, investment and sustainable growth. He said the grouping, which accounts for a significant share of the world’s population and economic output, is uniquely placed to leverage space technology for addressing common challenges.“Challenges such as climate change, natural disasters, food and water security, environmental degradation and sustainable urbanisation increasingly require collective solutions supported by advanced space technologies,” he said.The discussions focused on strengthening existing cooperation mechanisms and identifying new areas of collaboration. Delegates reviewed progress on the RSSC, which enables satellite data sharing among member nations, and discussed expanding participation of newer Brics members in ongoing initiatives.A major theme of the meeting was the need for stronger institutional frameworks. Singh expressed confidence that deliberations on the proposed Brics Space Council would provide continuity and momentum to future cooperation efforts.He also called for the partnership to evolve beyond dialogue and information-sharing. “Brics nations must move beyond consultation and work towards co-development, co-innovation and co-creation. By bringing together our scientists, engineers, industries, startups and young innovators, we can develop solutions for global challenges, create new economic opportunities and build a stronger framework for scientific advancement and shared prosperity,” Singh said. Sustainability also featured prominently in the discussions. With growing concerns over orbital congestion and space debris, participating nations examined measures to promote debris-free missions and responsible space operations. Singh stressed that the long-term future of space activities depends on preserving outer space as a safe and sustainable domain, calling for greater transparency, cooperation and capacity-building among nations.The meeting concluded with India reaffirming its commitment to deeper engagement with Brics partners. Go to Source
