CALCUTTA – The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) signed a memorandum of understanding with the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) here on Wednesday to provide assistance to the ICC’s newly set up Environmental Management Centre.

The letter of intent was signed by Richard Goldman, director, Office of Environment, Energy & Enterprise, USAID; Aditua Vlodha, president of ICC; and Ronald F. Cornell, group vice-president of Louis Berger International, Inc. on behalf of US-AEP/CTEM.

Under the agreement, USAID and US-AEP/CTEM will provide online database linkages and technical assistance to support industry in this region for overall improvement of environment and quality of life.

As part of its Clean Technology Initiative for Industry (CTI), USAID in India is committed to providing developmental assistance to help industries adopt suitable environmental management systems, improve energy efficiency, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The primary objectives include establishing a self-sustaining environmental information system in the eastern region, assisting Indian industry in adopting sound environmental management systems by providing information and training, and providing technical assistance for cleaner production, resource efficiency and greenhouse gas mitigation.