UPDATE ON GPS IN BRAZIL

UNCLAS BRASILIA 001119 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: TSPA TSPL ECPS KSCA BR SUBJECT: UPDATE ON GPS IN BRAZIL REF: A)04 BRASILIA 01396, B)04 SAO PAULO 01303 ¶1. Summary: Mission Brazil is facilitating the participation of NOAA's Jason Kim, Senior Policy Analyst in NOAA's Office of Space Commercialization, as a speaker in the GEOBrasil Summit scheduled for July 18-20 in Sao Paulo, and is supporting the GIWG (GPS International Working Group) in gathering information to evaluate the possibility of setting up a GPS information center in country. End of Summary ¶2. Background: Since the end of 2003, Mission Brazil has worked with the Bureau (OES) in a variety of endeavors to promote the use of GPS in Brazil, including supporting a high level U.S. delegation, led by DAS Lee Morin in May 2004, to talk with key GoB counterparts in Sao Paulo and Brasilia (reftel A) and holding a GPS conference at the American Chamber of Commerce in Sao Paulo in September 2004.(reftel B) Although both visits provided an opportunity for face-to-face dialogue with GoB interlocuters, they did not move the Brazilians toward a final decision. During these meetings, the delegation presented the GoB with a proposed text for a non-binding statement of cooperation in the use of GPS, which called for cooperative endeavors to maximize the user-potential of GPS and help cement it as a worldwide standard. Subsequent meetings between Emboffs and the GoB revealed that the Brazilian Foreign Ministry had no interest in signing. END OF BACKGROUND. ¶3. Post is eager to continue its work with Washington's GIWG to help define a plan to support and disseminate GPS in Latin America and Brazil through non-governmental means. Principal among these measures is the effort to institute a GPS infrmation center in Brazil, to monitor the politicl and economic climate related to GPS and to counter a stream of misinformation perpetrated byproponents of the European Union's new positionin standard, Galileo. ¶4. As part of this strategy, Post has been organizing USG participation in the GEOBrasil - 7th International Geoinformation Congress and Exhibition, scheduled for this July 18-20 in Sao Paulo. Jason Kim will participate in a forum on GPS, GLONASS and Galileo (the world's 3 competing global positioning standards). In addition to participating in the forum, the summit's organizers are contemplating inviting Mr. Kim to be a keynote speaker to discuss "Tendencies and Future Expectations for GPS." GEOBrasil, supported by Alcantara Machado Trade Fairs, is Latin America's principal Forum and trade fair concerned with Geospatial imaging, global positioning, and other related technologies and will be attended by scientists, politicians and industry representatives from throughout Latin America. ¶5. On another front, Dan Salvano, Director of the FAA's Navigation Services Division and a member of the GIWG, met with a Brazilian group, the Foundation for Defense Services and Technology Processes (SDTP) during a visit to Rio de Janeiro in March 06. Salvano was following up on the SDTP's offer to develop a GPS information center in Brazil. The GIWG views this meeting and subsequent interactions positively and believes that it would be beneficial to continue discussions with the SDTP. Consulate Rio officers are providing the GIWG with necessary information in support of this objective. ¶6. Comment: Convincing the GoB to formally adopt the GPS system is a Mission priority, and Post believes Mr. Kim's participation in the July conference will offer an excellent opportunity to move us forward by disseminating positive information about GPS to a large demographic of interested parties, throughout Latin America. End Comment CHICOLA