*EPF117 03/24/2003
Text: Thailand Wins USTDA Grant to Develop Spatial Data Infrastructure
(March 21 press release from the U.S. Trade and Development Agency) (650)

The U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) awarded a $207,600 grant to Thailand's Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) in order to develop a National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) plan.

This NSDI plan will provide important information to "support decision-making for natural resource and environmental management, as well as economic and social development," said the March 21 USTDA release.

The USTDA-funded study will inventory and evaluate existing geographic information in Thailand, and "prepare a blue print for the nearly $40 million, five-year GISTDA implementation plan" for that country.

The press release also noted that the U.S. private sector would also benefit from this study. Thailand will likely purchase geospatial technology hardware, software and services, and satellite imagery and communications equipment.

USTDA is a government agency that advances economic development and U.S. commercial interests in developing and middle-income countries.

Following is the March 21 press release from the USTDA:

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U.S. TDA: Current Press Release

USTDA AWARDS GRANT TO THE GEO-INFORMATICS AND SPACE TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT AGENCY IN THAILAND
For Immediate Release

BANGKOK - (March 21, 2003) On February 26, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) awarded a $207,600 grant to the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) to fund a feasibility study that will assist Thailand in developing a National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) plan. The Minister of Science and Technology of Thailand, Phinij Jarusombat, participated in the grant signing ceremony at the Siam City Hotel, signifying the priority of this initiative for the Government of Thailand. USTDA's Director for Asia, Geoffrey Jackson, signed the grant agreement on behalf of the U.S. Government. Dr. Suvit Vibulsresth, Director of GISTDA, signed on behalf of the Grantee.

Thai governmental agencies and private entities are increasingly using geo-informatics and geospatial information to support decision-making for natural resource and environmental management, as well as economic and social development. The NSDI initiative is set up to design technologies, policies, and procedures necessary to promote the sharing of geo-spatial data throughout all levels of government and the private sector. The Prime Minister of Thailand has emphasized publicly the need to upgrade and centralize the country's NSDI program, and has allocated budget resources to improve data quality and reduce the cost of geographic information usage.

The USTDA-funded study will inventory and evaluate existing geographic information, and prepare a blue print for the nearly $40 million, five-year GISTDA implementation plan. The opportunity to conduct the feasibility study will be competed later this month among interested U.S. firms through the Federal Business Opportunities website at www.fedbizopps.gov. The U.S. private sector also will benefit from this initiative through the Government of Thailand's likely procurement of geospatial technology hardware, software and services, and satellite imagery and communications equipment.

The NSDI development initiative in Thailand was highlighted at the Asia Geospatial Technology Conference sponsored by USTDA in Malaysia in February 2001. The initiative also supports the Thai-U.S. Economic Cooperation Framework through which both countries committed to developing a GIS project as part of an information technology development plan for Thailand.

The U.S. Trade and Development Agency advances economic development and U.S. commercial interests in developing and middle-income countries. The agency funds various forms of technical assistance, feasibility studies, training, orientation visits and business workshops that support the development of a modern infrastructure and a fair and open trading environment. USTDA's strategic use of foreign assistance funds to support sound investment policy and decision-making in host countries creates an enabling environment for trade, investment and sustainable economic development. In carrying out its mission, USTDA gives emphasis to economic sectors that may benefit from U.S. exports of goods and services.

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(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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