"India will be space powerhouse in next 20-30 years": Former Australian PM Morrison

Speaking online as part of the Indo-Mediterranean Dialogues, the former Australian Prime Minister emphasised that the opportunity extends across technology, manufacturing, and investment.

"I think India will be a space powerhouse over the next 20 to 30 years as its space economy matures," said Morrison.

"India takes its democracy and its institutions seriously and must, because it's a big part of your investment pitch as to why people would risk capital in India," he said.

The former Australian PM opined that as international companies reconsider their exposure to China, India will inevitably compete for that investment.

"We've seen capital withdrawn out of China. Where will it go? India will be one of those countries making that pitch, and I think it can make a good one."

In July this year, in a major boost to New Delhi's space projects, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the establishment of a temporary space tracking infrastructure on the Cocos (Keeling) Islands to actively support India's maiden human spaceflight endeavour.

The announcement came during a joint press interaction alongside Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who met his Australian counterpart during the second leg of his three-nation visit.

The two leaders shared a warm handshake as they posed for the media in Melbourne, underscoring the deepening strategic convergence between the two democracies.

Addressing the media, PM Albanese highlighted the expanding technological alignment between Canberra and New Delhi.

"As we expand our cooperation in space and technology, we have agreed to commission a temporary space tracking terminal on the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, which will support India's landmark Gaganyaan Human Space Flight Programme," PM Albanese said. (ANI)