BANGKOK, THAILAND, July 28, 1998 - Distinguished officials and international groups gathered from July 28-30, 1998, at Thailand’s oldest university to launch a critically important regional environmental program, the Greening of Industry Network.

Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister Supachai Panitchapakdi joined Undersecretary Melito Sison Salazar, Jr. of the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry, White House Advisor on the Environment Kathleen McGinty, former Indonesian Minister of the Environment Emil Salim, Executive Director Peter Kimm of the United States-Asia Environmental Partnership, and other industry and environment officials from Asia, the United States and Europe to celebrate the inauguration of the Greening of Industry Network - Asia.

Dr. Thienchay Kiranandana, the president of Chulalongkorn University, signed an agreement with representatives from Clark University in the United States and the University of Twente in the Netherlands, in a ceremony presided over by the U.S. Ambassador to Thailand, William Itoh.

The launching of the event was completed with the support of the United States-Asia Environmental Partnership (US-AEP), an environmental initiative of the United States Agency for International Development. In his visioning statement to open the event’s proceedings, Mr. Peter Kimm, Executive Director of US-AEP, noted the important interrelationships between environmental and economic policies and praised both Chulalongkorn University and the other Network partners for their extraordinary initiative in coming together.

Other event supporters include the Asian Productivity Organization; the United Nations Environment Program; Indonesian Ministry of Industry, and Trade and Ministry of Environment; the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry, and Department of Environment and Natural Resources; and the Federation of Thai Industries, Thai Ministry of Industry, Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment, and Ministry of University Affairs.

The inauguration of the Greening of Industry Network - Asia coincides with an international conference addressing the need to reconcile economic and technological development with long-term environmental sustainability. This tension is particularly relevant in Asia, where the economic crisis has forced a serious re-thinking of traditional economic development and business strategies. Fortunately, the key elements of this re-thinking—greater attention to efficiency, transparency, and accountability—are also fundamental elements of sustainable development.

More than 200 senior leaders from industry, government, academia, and communities explored the theme: Economic Recovery & Environmentally Sustainable Industry in Asia: Compatible Goals? The July 28 plenary sessions included three panel discussions, beginning with "The Need for Industrial Transformation." Representatives of the Asian Productivity Organization moderated a panel on "The Asian Economic Crisis," and the Asian Development Bank led a panel discussing "Policy Innovations" for a sustainable future. The day concluded with a reception sponsored by Chulalongkorn University and the Federation of Thai Industries.

The July 29-30 sessions included a Policy Fair, Greening of Industry Network Open Forum, Practitioners’ Workshop, and a Global Climate Change Systems for Analysis, Research and Training Workshop. A press briefing was held in the afternoon of July 29 with several key speakers.

The Greening of Industry Network, established in 1991, has grown to nearly 1,500 individuals who represent government ministries, research institutions, corporations, and non-governmental organizations from 50 countries. It is a research and policy network that focuses on issues of industry, environment, and society. The Network is dedicated to building a sustainable future.