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SATELLITE SECTOR TO TAKE OFF
THE government's newly appointed director of space commerce, Tim Craine, is keen for a satellite control centre to be built in the Island.
He said such a centre would aid marketing of the Island's space industry.
The Island is making good headway in the satellite arena.
Last week SES Global, a leading international satellite operator, announced that its Island-based subsidiary company, SES Global Satellite Leasing Ltd, had initiated satellite programmes.
Treasury Minister Allan Bell said the move is of 'enormous significance for the Island in terms of business development, economic diversification and international profile.'
SES Global Satellite Leasing is positioned to be the procurement vehicle for a series of satellites, some of which will still be in operation in 20 years time.
SES Global opened the Douglas office in early December. Mark Rigolle, SES global chief financial officer, said: 'We chose the Isle of Man for a variety of reasons, but in particular because of the stable political and regulatory environment.'
The company has a fleet of more than 40 satellites, employs nearly 1,000 people and primarily has business in Luxembourg, USA and Hong Kong.
Mr Craine, who is also the government's e-business director, said: 'I have always been fascinated by space and it is fantastic to be able to work in this area.'
His role involves promoting the space industry and trying to grow the market by attracting new business.
He believes the 'good reputation' that the Island has established in the space industry could help attract 'other significant business' to the Island.
'I will be involved in the coordination between the government and the private sector,' he said. 'I will be involved in negotiations with personnel and will be seeking to enhance the Isle of Man's position and help to attract further business,' he said.
The Island has already acquired four of the 10 satellite companies including Loral Skynet, Inmarsat, Boeing and SCS Global and has a good working relationship with Douglas-based ManSat, which files for satellite flights.
He added: 'What I would like to see, hopefully in the not too distant future, is the establishment of a satellite control centre on the Island.
'It would be good if we could market on this and it would promote the Island ever further.'
He praised ManSat for its work and said its competitive edge was helping to attract new business.
Mr Craine is married to Stella and has two children Kimberly and John, both of whom are studying at university.
He joined the Isle of Man Government as a civil servant in 1979 after graduating from Durham University.
Prior to his current appointment as e-business director, he was secretary to the Council of Ministers and acted as adviser to the chief minister.
During his career in the civil service, Mr Craine was involved in a number of areas of government activity, including tax inspection, fraud investigation, the promotion of financial services and developing its information technology.
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Weather for Isle of Man
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Light showers
Temperature: 7 C to 9 C
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Wind direction: South west
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