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