Cabinet informed of agreements on sustainable development, space

The Union Cabinet was today apprised of an array of agreements with foreign countries on sustainable and smart urban development, and outer space.

The Cabinet was apprised of the memorandum of understanding signed between India and Denmark on technical cooperation in the field of sustainable and smart urban development in April.

The objective of the MoU was to promote bilateral cooperation in the field on the basis of reciprocity and mutual benefit through exchange of knowledge, institutional cooperation, research and development on related issues.

The Cabinet was also apprised of an MoU signed between India and the United Kingdom on technical cooperation in the field of sustainable urban development in April.

The MoU was aimed at facilitating and strengthening India-UK institutional cooperation in the field of sustainable urban development.

The areas of cooperation include smart cities development, solid waste management, green affordable housing, waste water management, capacity building of urban institutions, skill development in urban areas, urban mobility, intelligent transport system and transit-oriented development, statements issued after the Cabinet meeting said.

The Cabinet was also apprised of a similar agreement India and France signed in March which would remain in force for five years.

The objectives of the agreement was to promote technical cooperation in the areas of smart cities development, development of urban mass transportation systems, urban settlements and utilities as mutually agreed by the contracting parties.

The Cabinet was informed of a MoU signed between India represented by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Oman represented by the Ministry of Transport and Communications on Cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space, in February at Muscat.

It would enable cooperation in space science, technology and applications, including remote sensing of the earth; satellite based navigation; space science and planetary exploration.