The U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) awarded a grant to Aeronautical Radio of Thailand, Ltd. (AeroThai) September 15 for the development of a regional Communications, Navigation and Surveillance Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) system that will cover seven members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, the agency announced in a press release issued the same day.

According to USTDA, the seven APEC economies covered by the project are China, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam.

"If implemented, the project will help to establish a seamless satellite-based operating environment within and between APEC regional airspaces," USTDA said.

ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA - (September 15, 2003) The U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) awarded a $568,700 grant today to Aeronautical Radio of Thailand, Ltd. (AeroThai), a private Thai company, to partially fund a technical assistance program on an Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Regional Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) project. The grant was conferred in a signing ceremony at USTDA headquarters in Arlington, Virginia. USTDA Director Thelma J. Askey signed the agreement on behalf of USTDA. Mr. Priti Hetrakul, President of AeroThai, signed on behalf of the Grantee.

The USTDA-funded technical assistance will support the development of a regional Communications, Navigation and Surveillance Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) system for the seven APEC economies covered by the project: China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam. If implemented, the project will help to establish a seamless satellite-based operating environment within and between APEC regional airspaces. The MITRE Corporation of McLean, Virginia, will provide the USTDA-supported technical assistance and will contribute in-kind services toward the completion of the project.

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.