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Outreach event for the Second Geospatial World Information Congress

[Wednesday, 3 August 2022; 1300 hrs/CR-2]

 

Remarks by Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj

Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations

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Excellencies, 

 

Mr. Stefan Schweinfest, Tim Trainor, Delegates from India and other Delegates. 

 

Warm greetings and welcome to this outreach event! 

 

Geospatial location has been crucial in the evolution of human civilization whether it is in its history, politics or in business. 

 

Geospatial information has historically helped in connecting humans and bringing them closer together. As such, the Geospatial industry offers the next ‘Big Opportunity’.

 

Today, if the world has become a Global Village, much credit goes to you, the Geospatial Community.

 

As you all know, India is hosting the 2nd UN World Geospatial Information Congress in October this year in beautiful Hyderabad.

 

As such and with a reputation of having the longest tradition of systematically collecting Spatial Data, we attach great importance to the meeting. 

 

You are perhaps all aware that India’s geospatial economy is currently valued at more than US $ 5 billion, and likely to grow to 11 billion US$ by 2025.  

 

And our roots are ancient! The origin of surveying and mapping in India can be traced back to the Indus Valley Civilization, the earliest known urban culture of the Indian subcontinent. The National Mapping Organization and Survey of India are more than 250 years old. In fact, the Survey of India is the oldest Cartographic Organization in the world. 

 

The Trigonometrical Survey of the Great Arc that took place over 170 years ago, in the 19thcentury is the biggest scientific expedition to map the Indian sub-continent including accurate measurement of the Himalayan region and establishing Mount Everest as the highest peak in the world. 

 

In recent decades, India’s strong Remote Sensing Programme has triggered the evolution of the Indian Geospatial Ecosystem. 

 

The Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi has been a pioneer in utilizing Geospatial Technology for Governance. 

 

In a general sense, Geospatial Technology and Information have been proven to be effective and efficient inputs for the decision-making process in various aspects of Governance. This technology has become one of the key enablers in socio-economic development by enhancing productivity, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness as important instruments of the ‘sustainability of everything’.

 

The key growth driver for the geospatial market in India is the thrust provided by Central and State government programs for developing a robust physical infrastructure, effective governance delivery including e-governance and digital economy initiatives, integrated programs on urban and rural development etc. 

 

Geospatial data and information and its adoption has so far been a direct beneficiary of the advancements in Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) as it rides conveniently on a matured digital ecosystem and digital infrastructure to deliver value to government, businesses as well as consumers/citizens.

 

It is a known fact that in the last two years, the world has experienced the Covid-19 Pandemic. There too, we witnessed the crucial role of location information and Geospatial technologies in helping governments control the spread of the virus through contact tracing and managing large administrative regions using Integrated Command and Control Centres. Accurate, real-time Geospatial information combined with other data, like demography, healthcare facilities, and vaccination centres has immensely helped us to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic emergency effectively.

 

I am aware of the important role played by UNGGIM in the evolution of the Global Geospatial Ecosystem. I thank them for reposing faith upon India by entrusting the responsibility of organizing the Second UN World Geospatial Information Congress from 10-14 October 2022 in Hyderabad.

 

My country has always believed in the philosophy that the World is One Family - Vasudaiva Kutumbakam. Thus, we are pleased to host the UN World Geospatial Information Congress and determined to make it a huge success, with the active support of all member states. 

 

I would also like to take this opportunity to invite members of the global geospatial community to our beautiful country and to the historic city of Hyderabad in October this year. 

 

Thank you. 

 

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