Last year, the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) Industrial Environmental Management Office received a US-AEP NGO-Business Environmental Partnership grant to support an innovative proposal: to promote the use of clean technologies by fostering cooperation between Thai industrialists and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). Using the grant funds, FTI held a three-day workshop in February 1998 to provide information about clean technology concepts, identify barriers to implementation of clean technologies, and, most importantly, establish a clean technology coordinating center with leadership from both industry and NGOs. This goal was realized at a February 16 signing ceremony during which the 24 NGO and corporate signatories named the organization the "IN (Industry and NGO) Group" and dedicated themselves to implementing and promoting clean technology. Demonstrating the success of this effort, the IN Group has grown from 24 to 58 organizational members over the past six months. The group is chaired by Ms. Mattana Tanomphan, Secretary General of Thai Environmental and Community Development Association, and has recently received additional funding to publish easy-to-use information materials on clean technology for country-wide distribution. The NGO-Business Environmental Partnership is administered by The Asia Foundation. According to the Foundation�s Chris Plante, this is one of the most successful of the 51 NGO-Biz partnership projects funded by US-AEP.

With partial funding from the US-AEP Environmental Technology Fund, representatives of two U.S. environmental technology firms traveled to India in April 1998 to continue their marketing efforts of hospital waste incinerators. The companies�Ocean Air Environmental of Santa Barbara, California, and Olivine Corporation of Bellingham, Washington�initiated discussions with potential Indian clients and attended the National Workshop on Hospital Waste Management in Jaipur. In addition, the Americans met with representatives of several Indian hospitals, as well as the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the Central Pollution Control Board, nongovernmental organization Shristi, the World Health Organization, and combustion technology firm Thermax. This was the second trip to Asia for the U.S. team: The sales effort�s first milestone was reached in October 1997 with the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) by Ocean Air and India�s Sycom Projects Consultants, designating Sycom as Ocean Air�s in-country representative. The U.S. companies� next step will be to install demonstration units in key sites in India. The Environmental Technology Fund is managed by the National Association of State Development Agencies.

At the first-ever environmental "catalog show" held at the American Consulate in Chennai, India, 48 U.S. firms showcased their environmental technologies to more than 330 Indian visitors. Organized by the U.S. Foreign Commercial Service (FCS) and US-AEP, the May 1998 show is the first in a series of "industry of the month" catalog shows to be sponsored by FCS. Opening-day briefings by US-AEP Technology Representative Sundaresan Subramanian and the U.S. Commercial Consul were attended by the chairman of the local government�s Pollution Control Board and members of the press. By the show�s conclusion, 24 of the participating U.S. firms had received trade inquiries from visitors, with particularly strong interest shown in water treatment and solid waste management technologies. Other positive outcomes include extensive coverage by the local press and enthusiastic feedback from more than 300 attendees. Look for information on sales resulting from this event in future issues of UPDATE.

The U.S.-ASEAN Ambassadors Tour, led by the U.S.-ASEAN Business Council, has for six years provided a forum to enable U.S. companies to interact with U.S. Ambassadors and Foreign Commercial Service officers stationed in ASEAN nations. By fostering discussion between representatives of these groups, the meetings are intended to enhance U.S. competitiveness in Southeast Asian markets. This year�s five-city tour, held earlier this month, featured a session on environmental infrastructure moderated by US-AEP Executive Director Peter Kimm and organized by US-AEP�s partner for infrastructure activities, the American Consulting Engineers Council. Held in Greenville, South Carolina, the session enabled senior representatives of four ACEC member firms�EarthTech, Montgomery Watson, Louis Berger, and Pennoni International�to present their views on the challenges of doing business in Asia. Discussion topics included:

• Privatization and the need for creative delivery schemes, particularly in the area of financing;
• Uneven playing field created by the support competing companies receive from their governments;
• Lack of clear standards and specifications for the bidding process;
• Importance of the intellectual property rights in the consulting engineering industry; and
• Need for more and better partnerships, both public and private.

Each of the firms is heavily involved in the Southeast Asian infrastructure market and remains committed to activities there, despite the economic downturn. For more information, contact ACEC�s Lynne Damon at 202-347-7474.

The Environmental Data Interactive Exchange, a new website located at www.edie.net, provides a number of tools for environmental professionals. Features include a global marketplace section, a searchable reference library, weekly news summaries, networking opportunities, and a technology database that enables users to compare the latest equipment and services available in the environment and water sectors. The site is provided by environmental publisher Faversham House Group and is free to all users.