New Delhi: The South Asia Satellite will be launched on May 5, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on Sunday, describing it as India's “priceless gift” to its neighbours.
Seven out of eight SAARC countries are a part of the project which Pakistan refused to join as it did not want the “gift” from India.
“We have always attempted to move ahead with the concept of ‘sabka sath, sabka vikas (cooperation of all, development for all)’,” Mr Modi said in his monthly radio programme Mann Ki Baat.
“The concept is not confined to India but is relevant globally, especially in the context of the neighbourhood,” he said.
“There should be cooperation of our neighbours and there should be development of our neighbours too,” he said.
“On May 5, India will launch the South Asia Satellite. The benefits of this satellite will go a long way in meeting the developmental needs of the countries participating in this project,” he said.
“This is an appropriate example of our commitment towards South Asia... The satellite of South Asia will help in the overall development of the entire region,” he said.
The benefits will be in the areas of mapping of natural resources, tele-medicine, education, IT connectivity and people-to-people links, he said.
He thanked the countries which became part of this project. These countries, besides India, are Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Afghan-istan.
