CARACAS, Wednesday October 29, 2008 | Update
Country
Venezuela has launched, from Chinese territory, a communication
satellite manufactured in the Asian country with an investment
of USD 406 million, which according to President Hugo Chávez
will guarantee full telecommunications sovereignty.
President Chávez reported that the Long March-3B rocket
lift off on Wednesday from the Xichang launch pad in the Chinese
province of Sichuan carrying the 5.1 tonnes satellite.
"This is a satellite for the liberation of people through
culture and knowledge,'' Chávez said recently. With this
VENESAT-1 satellite "we are recovering our sovereign rights
on outer space. Venezuela is becoming free, towards socialism,"
he added.
The satellite will use a geostationary orbital position at
78 degree West and begin to operate after approximately three
months of testing, AP reported.
The satellite is expected to provide communication services
in nearly all Latin America.
05:09 PM. Economy. If any country has cashed in on the Bolivarian revolution, that is Brazil, particularly the private companies of the southern neighbor. Over the past five years, it has been awarded contracts for works to be carried out in Venezuela for over USD 14 billion. This puts it as the first recipient of government-to-government contracts, that is, without bidding, since Hugo Chávez took office.