Seven Heads of State and Government of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), via live video conference simulcast, today commemorated the launch of The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)'s GSat-9 communications satellite.

The Prime Minister of India H.E Narendra Modi, President of Afghanistan H.E Ashraf Ghani, Prime Minister of Bangladesh H.E Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister of Bhutan H.E Tshering Tobgay, Prime Minister of Nepal H.E Pushpa Kamal Dahal and the President of Sri Lanka H.E Maithripala Sirisena, along with H.E President Yameen Abdul Gayoom participated in the live video conference simulcast.

During the live simulcast President Yameen extended his gratitude to Prime Minister Modi and the people of India, for the very special gift to the South Asian Region, complimenting the Prime Minister’s, and India’s, visionary “Neighbourhood First Policy”.

President Yameen expressed his firm belief that the Satellite would serve to improve the lives of the people of South Asia, extending benefits in the areas of telecommunication, telemedicine, tele-education, mapping of natural resources and disaster management support.

The President further underscored the Maldives’ commitment towards the betterment and prosperity of the region expressing the Maldives’ determination to work with all our South Asian neighbours towards the greater good of all.

“It is my sincere hope that we be able to put aside our differences, and work together as an organization that can fulfil our hopes and aspirations,” the President said.

The GSat-9 satellite dubbed the “South Asia Satellite” is India's gift to neighbours and will have a footprint across South Asia enabling a vast range of services in telecommunications and broadcasting.