India elected co-chair of UN Global Geospatial Committee for Asia-Pacific

India Elected Co-Chair of UN Global Geospatial Committee for Asia-Pacific

Key Points:

1. India’s Election to Leadership Role:
   • India has been elected as the Co-Chair of the Regional Committee of the United Nations Global Geospatial Information Management for Asia and the Pacific (UN-GGIM-AP).
   • The election marks a major milestone in India’s growing global leadership in the geospatial information sector.
   • India was represented by Hitesh Kumar S. Makwana, IAS, Surveyor General of India.
2. Event Details:
   • The election took place during the 14th Plenary Meeting of UN-GGIM-AP held from September 24–26, 2025, in Goyang-si, Republic of Korea.
   • The event was hosted by the National Geographic Information Institute (NGII) of South Korea.
   • Delegates from 56 member countries, technical experts, and partner organizations discussed strategies to strengthen geospatial information management in the Asia-Pacific region.
3. India’s Recognition and Role:
   • India’s election as Co-Chair is a recognition of its contributions to geospatial innovation, capacity building, and regional cooperation.
   • India will serve a three-year term (2025–2028), working alongside fellow Co-Chairs and Vice-Chairs to implement the UN-GGIM Strategic Framework.
   • India received unanimous backing from regional member states, reflecting strong trust in its leadership.
4. India’s Vision and Priorities:
   • In his address, Hitesh Kumar S. Makwanaemphasized India’s commitment to:
     • Inclusive and resilient geospatial governance
     • Data-driven decision-making and transparency
     • Secure digital transformation and good governance
     • Capacity building and regional collaboration
   • He underlined India’s goal to promote geospatial technologies for sustainable development and disaster resilience.
5. About UN-GGIM and Its Asia-Pacific Committee:
   • UN-GGIM (United Nations Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management) is the apex intergovernmental platform for global cooperation on geospatial data policy and governance.
   • The Asia-Pacific Regional Committee (UN-GGIM-AP) is one of five regional bodies, representing national geospatial agencies of 56 countries.
   • The committee aims to maximize economic, social, and environmental benefits of geospatial information through collaboration, capacity development, and shared solutions.
6. Significance for India:
   • Strengthens India’s role as a global leader in digital mapping, geospatial policy, and data governance.
   • Enhances India’s engagement in UN-led initiatives on sustainable development, smart cities, and disaster management.
   • Supports India’s Digital India and Atmanirbhar Bharat visions through innovation in spatial data infrastructure.

Static Data for Revision:

• Committee: United Nations Global Geospatial Information Management – Asia-Pacific (UN-GGIM-AP)
• India’s Representative: Hitesh Kumar S. Makwana, IAS
• Election Venue: Goyang-si, Republic of Korea
• Plenary: 14th UN-GGIM-AP Meeting
• Term: 2025–2028
• Total Member Countries: 56 (Asia-Pacific)
• Host Institute: National Geographic Information Institute (NGII), South Korea
  
  Updated - 16 Oct 2025 ; 10: 22 PM | DD News