ISRO, Astrium ink bilateral space cooperation pact in Paris

Paris, Sept.30 : India and France today signed a long term agreement for the Utilization of the Indian Polar Satellite launch vehicle for launching satellites.

The agreement was signed ahead of talks between Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and French President Nicholas Sarkozy here.

The Chairman of Antrix Corporation, the commercial arm of the Indian Space research Organisation (ISRO) Dr. G Madhvan Nair and the CEO of Astrium, the French space organization, Fran§ois Auque signed the pact.

The two companies have been already cooperating in the field of space activities.

Two major satellite contracts have been already signed by both companies, representing a major breakthrough for European and Indian space organizations.

Agreements on civil nuclear cooperation and social security are also to be signed after the summit level talks between Singh and Sarkozy this afternoon.

The agreement on nuclear cooperation will be the first such pact after the NUclear Suppliers Group (NSG) granted a waiver to India.

Officials of the two countries had finalized the bilateral nuke pact in New Delhi in January this year during Sarkozy's visit to India.

The pact in the field of social security will benefit of over 200,000 non-resident Indians working in France.

Prior to their meeting, both Singh and Sarkozy have indicated that the nuclear pact will be finalised. By Naveen Kapoor

ANI