TEGUCIGALPA, HONDURAS - (February 14, 2003) Yesterday, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) awarded a $359,000 grant to the Comisión Nacional de Telecomunicaciones (CONATEL) to support telecommunication regulation and liberalization in Honduras. U.S. Ambassador to Honduras Larry L. Palmer signed an agreement conferring the grant on behalf of the U.S. Government and Dr. Marlon Ramssés Tábora M., President of CONATEL, signed on behalf of the grantee. Roger D. Pierce, Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Honduras, and Dr. Dante Ariel Mossi, CONATEL Commissioner Secretary, witnessed the grant signing.

CONATEL is the entity in Honduras responsible for implementing and applying both national official policy and international treaty obligations in the telecommunications sector. The USTDA grant will be used to contract with a U.S. firm to provide technical assistance to CONATEL as it prepares to implement significant market liberalization. Specifically, the technical assistance will assess the current situation in the Honduran telecommunications sector; establish objectives for market opening; evaluate the technical, economic, legal, and regulatory implications of various options; and develop an action plan.

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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