Mzwandile Mbeje, Brasilia

South Africa, India and Brazil have agreed to jointly develop a satellite to be launched into orbit for purposes of detecting natural disasters and for scientific research. This emerged at the conclusion of the IBSA summit held in Brasilia, the capital of Brazil.

There were also agreements on solar energy. Briefing the media afterwards, leaders lauded progress made among the three countries in promoting people to people contact.

Brazil President Lula Da Silva says: "Today we announce the development of two IBSA satellites. The first for climate studies and the second to observe the earth. They will benefit IBSA countries as well as other friendly nations".

South Africa is excited about the development, with the IBSA fund well in place and many initiatives already being undertaken.

Shared development objectives

President Jacob Zuma says: "We see this initiative as an opportunity to re-inforce our shared development objectives. A joint satellite could lend support to areas like agriculture, education energy and health information and communications".

An ideal body to respond to the needs of the more than one billion people in the combined countries.

India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh says: "The IBSA framework has become an embodiment of South South cooperation in a period of seven years when the idea of establishing IBSA was first discussed. IBSA has moved from strength to strength".

South Africa will host the next IBSA summit in October next year.