Brazilian representatives discuss digital TV in Japan

09/04/2006 - 20h22

Mylena Fiori
Reporter - Agência Brasil

Brasilian - The Brazilian minister of Foreign Relations, Celso Amorim, embarked yesterday (9) for Japan, where he will maintain governmental contacts related to Brazil's future choice of a digital TV standard. "We will discuss the possibility of an effective partnership in this area," the minister commented prior to his departure. The minister of Development, Industry, and Foreign Trade, Luiz Fernando Furlan, and the minister of Communications, Hélio Costa, are also accompanying the mission.

Encounters are scheduled for Tuesday (11) and Wednesday (12) with the Japanese prime minister, Junichiro Koizumi, the minister of Foreign Affairs, Taro Aso, the minister of Interior and Communications, Heizo Takenaka, the minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry, Toshihiro Nikai, and the vice-president of the Association of Radio Industries and Business, Genichi Hashimoto, among others.

Minister Amorim guarantees that the meetings with the Japanese government do not imply eliminating the possibility of adopting a Brazilian digital TV model. "Brazil does not wish to reinvent the wheel and have its own modulation standard. What is important is for there to be midware and software to complement one of the standards," he assured.

Translation: David Silberstein