NEW DELHI: In a landmark moment reflecting the deepening strategic partnership between India and the United States, the 4th India-USA Space and Geospatial Business Summit convened on December 2, 2024, at the Hyderabad International Convention Centre, Hyderabad. Organized by the Geospatial World Chamber of Commerce (GWCC) in collaboration with Geospatial World, this high-profile summit brought together key stakeholders from government, industry, academia, and research to explore and amplify the geospatial and space sectors’ potential.
With bilateral trade in geospatial and space technologies projected to grow from $2.5 billion in 2024 to $10 billion by 2030, the summit underscored how shared investments in technology, policy alignment, and manufacturing can accelerate global progress.
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India’s Role in a Transformative Partnership
Sanjay Kumar, CEO of Geospatial World, highlighted India’s thriving geospatial sector, valued at $1.92 billion, as a global hub for cost-effective geospatial services. He remarked:
“The COVID-19 pandemic showcased the power of geospatial technologies for innovation and collaboration, enabling solutions that transcend borders. The partnership between India and the U.S.—India’s most comprehensive strategically—spans multiple sectors, including trade, defence, education, and healthcare, cementing a robust framework for innovation.”
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India’s strengths in delivering high-quality, cost-efficient solutions complement the U.S.’s leadership in cutting-edge technology, creating a formidable partnership for driving global geospatial advancements.
Hyderabad: A Global Geospatial Hub
Jennifer Larson, U.S. Consulate General in Hyderabad, emphasized the city’s role as a leader in geospatial data processing.
She said, “Hyderabad processes more geospatial data than anywhere else in the world. Our joint initiatives in space exploration and geospatial technologies are taking us closer to the cosmos while addressing critical global challenges like climate change, disaster management, and food security.”
Larson underscored the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) with geospatial data, enabling sophisticated analyses to tackle global issues. She expressed optimism about the future of the partnership, stating:
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“This partnership is not just about economic growth; it is about leveraging geospatial and space technologies to address global challenges, improve lives, and ensure sustainability.”
“By the next summit, I hope we will witness bold advancements in areas like visa facilitation and expanded space cooperation, contributing to our $10 billion trade goal,” she said in conclusion.
Fostering Actionable Strategies
Discussions at the summit focused on actionable strategies to deepen collaboration, including technology transfer, advanced manufacturing for geospatial equipment, and bolstering India’s role as a solution provider.
Dr Rajeev Jyoti, Director (Technical), IN-SPACe, highlighted the NASA-ISRO SAR (NISAR) Mission, a collaboration exemplifying the synergy between India and the U.S. He noted that India’s National Geospatial Policy (2022) and Space Policy (2023) have catalyzed the growth of geospatial and space industries in the country.
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“The global Earth Observation (EO) industry, growing at a CAGR of 16%, is projected to reach $8 billion, and India is poised to play a key role in this expansion,” he added.
A Shared Vision for the Future
Srikant Sastri, Chairman of the Geospatial Data Promotion & Development Committee (GDPDC), highlighted the transformative impact of the National Geospatial Policy 2022, which empowers private players to acquire, store, and process spatial data.
He said, “As part of this initiative, we are overhauling India’s mapping and data infrastructure to drive modernization. By stimulating private sector demand for geospatial data, products, and services, we are not only accelerating the industry’s growth domestically but also creating a robust second avenue for expanding India-U.S. bilateral trade.”
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Sastri emphasized its role in enhancing India-U.S. bilateral trade, positioning geospatial technology as a key driver of economic and strategic collaboration.
The summit called for enhanced research collaborations, streamlined technology transfer frameworks, and strengthened networks connecting businesses, governments, and research institutions. These measures are crucial to achieving the ambitious target of $10 billion in bilateral trade by 2030.