What happened
On October 16, 2025, 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), marking a significant milestone in the country’s leadership in the global geospatial sector. India was represented in the election by Hitesh Kumar S. Makwana, IAS, Surveyor General of India. The elections were held during the 14th Plenary Meeting of UN-GGIM-AP from September 24–26, 2025, in Goyang-si, Republic of Korea, hosted by the National Geographic Information Institute. Delegates from member states, technical experts, and observers deliberated on key issues in geospatial information management, with reports and progress updates presented by the Executive Board, working groups, and partner organizations.
Why it matters to India
India’s election as Co-Chair recognizes its contributions to geospatial innovation, capacity building, and regional collaboration. Serving a three-year term under the UN-GGIM Strategic Framework, India aims to advance inclusive, resilient, and results-driven efforts. Hitesh Kumar S. Makwana highlighted India’s vision for leadership, secure digital transformation, good governance, data-driven decision-making, transparency, and capacity building. The elevation strengthens India’s role in shaping policies and strategies for effective geospatial information management across the Asia-Pacific region. UN-GGIM-AP, representing national geospatial agencies of 56 countries, works to maximize the economic, social, and environmental benefits of geospatial data, while UN-GGIM serves as the apex intergovernmental mechanism for global geospatial policy and development agendas.