ISRO conducts 5-day remote sensing training for 35 Bhutan officials in Thimphu

In a significant step towards strengthening bilateral ties and enhancing technological cooperation between India and Bhutan, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is currently conducting a comprehensive training program on remote sensing technology for Bhutanese officials. The training, which began on September 10, 2023, is being organised in Thimphu, Bhutan, and is set to last for five days.

This collaborative effort between ISRO and the Bhutanese government aims to empower Bhutanese officials with the knowledge and skills required for the effective utilisation of remote sensing technology in governance and various other fields.

ISRO officially announced this initiative on its former Twitter handle, stating, "Experts from IIRS, SAC, and NRSC are conducting training in Thimphu for about 35 officials."

The Indian Embassy in Bhutan's capital, Thimphu, also confirmed the commencement of the training program. In a statement released to the media, the Indian Embassy stated, "The Indian Space Research Organisation in collaboration with GovTech inaugurated a 5-day training for officials of the Royal Government of Bhutan on applications of remote sensing technology for good governance."

India-Bhutan space cooperation

This initiative comes as a follow-up to the inauguration of the ground station for the India-Bhutan Sat at Thimphu earlier in March. The ground station enables Bhutan to receive real-time data from the India-Bhutan Sat satellite, which is crucial for monitoring and managing various aspects of Bhutan's territory. The India-Bhutan Sat (INS-2B) satellite was successfully launched on November 26, 2022, aboard ISRO's PSLV-C54 mission, which included eight nano-satellites. 

The cooperation between India and Bhutan in the field of space technology is guided by a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed and exchanged in 2020. Under this MoU, both nations are committed to cooperating in various potential interest areas, including remote sensing of the Earth, satellite communication, satellite-based navigation, space science and planetary exploration, the use of spacecraft and space systems, ground systems, and the application of space technology.