Foreign firms can build satellite launchpads, ground stations in India: ISRO

Bengaluru: ISRO Chief and Secretary in the space department, K Sivan, indicated that foreign companies could get permission to invest in the Indian space sector and to build their own satellite launchpads and ground stations. An announcement in this regard had been made a few months ago, and it was declared that the Indian space sector would be opened for private sector companies. Now it is being proposed to allow foreign companies to invest in the space sector and to build their own facilities, and K Sivan announced during an interview that soon this will be a part of the Indian space policy.

With the new Indian space policy, the doors to the space sector will be open not only for the domestic private sector companies but also for foreign investors. Foreign companies will be able to have their ground stations. They can create facilities to produce satellites and launch vehicles. ISRO Chief K. Sivan also said that these foreign companies remain invested in India, they will be allowed to use the spaceports in the country.

K. Sivan informed, ‘This will be a courageous decision in the new space policy. Work is being done on this proposal, and it will soon become a part of the Indian Space Policy. Therefore, foreign companies can enter the Indian space sector without collaborating with any Indian company.’ Sivan also clarified that Indian companies also are free to collaborate with foreign companies.

Investment in the space sector is a sensitive issue. Therefore, guidelines will be drawn by keeping national security and interests in view. It will be binding on the foreign companies to follow these guidelines. K. Sivan said that each investment proposal would be handled individually after the policy is prepared. Many proposals have been received after the announcement to open the space sector for private companies. Sivan said that many foreign companies also had expressed interest.