The government will actively participate in the European Union's project to develop a satellite navigation system.

The system being developed under the Galileo project is expected to compete with the global positioning system (GPS) of the United States, by offering more precise information and larger coverage.

The Ministry of Science and Technology said Monday that it will set up a council to deliberate major policies related to the project, as well as to coordinate operations of related ministries.

Sponsored by the European Commission and the European Space Agency, the Galileo project aims to develop a satellite positioning and navigation system exclusively for civilian use. It is expected to be operational by 2008.

By participating in the project, the ministry said it hopes to reduce dependence on the U.S.-developed GPS and improve the country's information infrastructure. It added that South Korea can diversify its exports by helping local companies enter the global market.
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