Press Release

Secretary Gutierrez Embarks on First International Trip

Gutierrez Visits Brussels to Meet EU Counterparts, Participate in Earth Observation Summit

U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez today embarked on his first official international visit to Brussels, Belgium February 15-16, 2005. Gutierrez will meet with European Union government officials and lead a U.S. delegation to the Global Earth Observation Summit. Gutierrez was sworn in as Secretary of Commerce last Monday.

“I look forward to discussing the Bush Administration’s continued commitment to working with other nations to achieve common goals,” said Gutierrez. “The strength of the U.S. economy is closely tied to our success in fostering international partnerships and encouraging broad support for the sound fiscal and monetary policies that create jobs at home and produce prosperity around the world.”

In addition to meeting with EU government officials, Gutierrez will deliver a keynote address to the Global Earth Observation Summit where he will present the United States plan for an integrated U.S. Earth Observation system and highlight the importance and benefits of working with the European Union and other nations involved to implement such a system.

This third Earth Observation Summit, hosted by the European Commission, will be held at the Palais d”Egmont in Brussels February 16, 2005 and will bring together sixty countries, the European Commission and nearly thirty international organizations.

The Summit is expected to launch a 10-year implementation plan designed to create a 21st century integrated observing system that will yield economic and environmental benefits such as better forecasting of weather patterns, predicting and protecting against environmental disasters such as hurricanes and tsunamis and a general overall better understanding of how the earth works. In the United States alone, this technology could provide us with the tools to cut annual energy costs by at least $1 billion.

The U.S. delegation to the Global Earth Observation Summit will include Retired Vice Admiral Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and Dr. Charles G. Groat, director of the U.S. Geological Survey.