Saudi Arabia becomes 73rd country to join ISA, signs framework agreement

Saudi Arabia on Wednesday signed the framework agreement of the International Solar Alliance (ISA). With this Saudi Arabia became the 73rd country to join the India-led renewable energy organisation which now has a total of 122 members.

Addressing a joint press conference in the National Capital with the Crown Prince, PM Modi said, “We welcome Saudi Arabia to the ISA.”

The signing of the agreement took place after a bilateral meeting between the PM and Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The two sides discussed on key areas like trade and investment, renewable energy, defence, nuclear and space, civil aviation, counter-terrorism, community welfare as well as regional challenges.

Recently Argentina signed the framework agreement of the International Solar Alliance (ISA). The agreement was inked on the sidelines of the official three-day visit of Argentinian President Mauricio Macri to India by Argentina’s Foreign Minister Jorge Faurie in the presence of ISA’s Director-General Upendra Tripathy.

“A new partner in the Alliance. Foreign Minister of Argentina, @JorgeFaurie signs the Framework Agreement of International Solar Alliance @isolaralliance. Argentina becomes the 72nd country to sign the Framework Agreement”, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted on Monday.

Countries which have signed the agreement until now include India, France, Australia, UAE, UK, Japan amongst others.

The International Solar Alliance (ISA) is a group of 122 solar resource-rich countries with headquarters in Gurugram, India.

The organisation aims to deploy over 1,000 gigawatt of solar energy and mobilise more than USD 1,000 billion into solar power by 2030, according to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).