In 1997, US-AEP fostered transfer of U.S. environmental technology to Asia in a variety of ways, often through teamwork among the program's partners. Activities that led to U.S. sales include counseling of U.S. and Asian firms by Technology Representatives; grants administered by the National Association of State Development Agencies (NASDA); trade leads provided via the Environmental Technology Network for Asia (ETNA); and Environmental Exchange Program (EEP) activities conducted by the Institute of International Education. Still other sales were expedited through counseling performed by US-AEP's liaison to the Asian Development Bank. Following are highlights of transactions facilitated through US-AEP partnerships.

Consumat Systems, Inc., of Richmond, Virginia, secured a $2.1 million tire incineration equipment sale to Samsung Heavy Industries Co., Ltd., of Seoul, Korea, through US-AEP activities. In 1996, US-AEP/Korea and the Environmental Exchange Program (EEP) team brought officials from Samsung's Hankook Tire Co. operation to visit incineration facilities in the United States. Tech Rep Chi-sun Lee later counseled Hankook decision-makers on the quality and cost-effectiveness of Consumat's systems. A subsequent EEP endeavor brought Consumat's Chris Brown to Korea last April, where he addressed 200 environmental professionals on the topic of solid waste incineration. In confirming the sale, Brown stated that the assistance of US-AEP was "indispensable and critical" to his company's success.

An ETNA trade lead and counseling by US-AEP/India resulted in a 1997 sale for Stamford Scientific International of Poughkeepsie, New York. Through ETNA, the U.S. company became aware of a need for pollution prevention technology at IAEC Industries Madras Limited of Chennai, India. US-AEP/India worked closely with Stamford Scientific to reach an agent-distributor agreement with the Chennai firm. The agreement was valued at $50,000 for the supply of diffuser membrane and airlift pumps.

The efforts of NASDA's Overseas Program Fund, EEP, and US-AEP/Hong Kong combined to bring about a sale of air pollution equipment for Graseby Andersen of Smyrna, Georgia. Delegates from the Chinese University of Hong Kong visited the Air & Waste Management Association (A&WMA) 90th Annual Meeting and Exhibition in Toronto, Canada, last June, where they learned of the air pollution technology available through Graseby Andersen. After the A&WMA event, US-AEP/Hong Kong helped close the $120,000 sale by continuing to work with representatives from both the Chinese University and the U.S. company.

In the last three months, the California Environmental Protection Agency--CalEPA, a US-AEP partner--has sent technical assistance teams to the Philippines and Thailand to help address local environmental problems. In December, two CalEPA experts visited the Philippines to develop an air quality action plan for metro Manila. The assistance, which was requested by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), was facilitated through the coordination of Dr. Alma Madrazo, Director of US-AEP/Philippines, and Tim Ogburn of CalEPA. The team consisted of CalEPA officials Michael Scheible and Dean Simeroth, who visited Manila the week of December 8 to meet with representatives of the DENR's Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), ADB, the Philippines Department of Energy, the Bureau of Product Standards, the Philippines Institute of Petroleum, and representatives of two oil companies, CALTEX and Shell. The team has submitted suggested regulations for phasing out leaded gasoline and is now in the process of writing a final report, which will include more comprehensive recommendations such as improving fuels to reduce air pollution and designing a system to collect fees from pollution sources to support EMB activities.

The CalEPA also dispatched experts to Thailand to help the Ladkrabang Industrial Estate meet ISO 14000 standards. The Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand submitted a proposal for this technical assistance to J.D. Murphy, Director of US-AEP/Thailand, who forwarded it to the CalEPA. Jennifer Smith, Manager of the ISO 14000 Project for the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC), conducted a one-week review in Bangkok last November. Following an analysis of her preliminary findings, a four-member technical assistance team has been assembled and will work in Bangkok during the first two weeks in February. The CalEPA team consists of Ms. Smith as team leader, Dr. Teng-chung Wu of the San Francisco Regional Water Quality Control Board, Peter Ouchida of California's Air Resources Board, and Astrid Johnson of DTSC.