Hitesh Kumar S. Makwana Elected as Co-Chair of UN-GGIM-AP for 2025–2028 Term.

International | Dated: 19 Oct 2025

In October 2025, Hitesh Kumar S. Makwana, Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer and Surveyor General of India (SGI), was officially elected as Co-Chair of the Regional Committee of the United Nations Global Geospatial Information Management for Asia and the Pacific (UN-GGIM-AP) for a term of three years (2025–2028), alongside Woosug Cho from the Republic of Korea.

🎯 Key Highlights:

  • - Hitesh Kumar S. Makwana was elected during the 14th Plenary Meeting of UN-GGIM-AP held from 24 to 26 September 2025 in Goyang-si, Republic of Korea. His term as Co-Chair will last for three years, from 2025 to 2028.
  • - The elections and discussions took place in Goyang-si, Republic of Korea, hosted by the National Geographic Information Institute (NGII). Delegates from member states, technical experts, and observers participated in discussions on geospatial information management in the Asia-Pacific region.
  • - India’s election as Co-Chair strengthens its leadership in shaping policies and strategies for efficient geospatial information management across the Asia-Pacific region, enabling India to influence regional collaboration and development in geospatial technologies.

💡 Other Important Facts:

  • (i) UN-GGIM-AP is one of the five UN-GGIM regional committees, which also include Africa, Americas, Europe, and Arab States. It focuses on geospatial infrastructure and governance in the Asia-Pacific region.
  • (ii) The regional committee was initially established in 1995 as the Permanent Committee on Geographic Information System (GIS) Infrastructure for Asia and the Pacific (PCGIAP). It was renamed UN-GGIM-AP in 2012 after the creation of UN-GGIM in 2011.
  • (iii) UN-GGIM-AP is represented by the National Geospatial Information Authorities of 56 countries in the Asia-Pacific region. Its key functions include maximizing economic, social, and environmental benefits of geospatial information through collaboration, capacity development, and shared solutions.

📚 Test Your Knowledge:

Recently, Who has been elected as the Co-Chair of UN-GGIM-AP for the 2025–2028 term?

Correct Answer: Hitesh Kumar S. Makwana

🚀 Quick Recap:

About United Nations Global Geospatial Information Management (UN-GGIM)

  • Headquarters : New York, the United States of America(USA)
  • Established : 2011