Through a US-AEP State Environmental Initiative (SEI) project, the state of Hawaii is partnering with the Filipino government to promote energy efficiency in the Philippines. The project was kicked off with a June 17-18 workshop held in Manila, "Energy Efficiency Policies and Technologies of the Philippines: U.S. and Hawaii Transfer Opportunities." This event is the first in a series of activities designed by the project partners�the state of Hawaii�s Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism and the Philippine Department of Energy (DOE)�to promote the use of advanced energy efficiency technologies, building codes and standards, demand side management, and the expansion of a Filipino energy service company (ESCO) industry. The workshop was sponsored by the Hawaiian and Filipino partners, with funding under an earlier project from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO).

More than 70 Filipino participants were on hand for the workshop, representing government agencies, the private sector, electric utility companies, and academic organizations. Francisco Viray, Secretary of the Philippine DOE, gave welcoming remarks, along with representatives from the state of Hawaii, NASEO, USAID, and US-AEP. In addition, the vice president of Energy Performance Services, Inc., a leading energy service company based in Pennsylvania, described the ins and outs of performance contracting and explained how his firm has managed to secure financing for projects around the world. Speakers from the state of Hawaii, the Philippine DOE, the Philippines Energy Regulatory Board, and two local associations described the results of their research and projects in the areas of climate change and demand side management, as well as their policy and technology transfer needs. The State Environmental Initiative is implemented by the Council of State Governments. This project is one of seven approved by the SEI advisory board for implementation this year.

Following their participation in the Waste Expo �98 conference held in Chicago, Illinois, 16 Korean businessmen took part in June 11-12 meetings with the Minnesota Trade Office (MTO) and several of the state�s environmental technology firms. The delegation was led by US-AEP Technology Representative in Korea, Chi-Sun Lee, with support provided through US-AEP�s Overseas Program Fund, implemented by the National Association of State Development Agencies. The group received an overview of the MTO�s functions from Executive Director Noor Doja and International Trade Representative for Environmental Technologies Karin Nelson, while briefings on Minnesota companies and capabilities were given by Dennis Kim, President, Enviroscience; Philip Solseng, Vice President, Barr Engineering Company; Kirk Rosenberger, consultant to NRG Energy, Inc.; and Douglas Petty, international management consultant. In addition, a site visit arranged by Hennepin County Environmental Services in Minneapolis enabled the delegates to see a waste-to-energy facility in action. A tour of the facility, Hennepin Energy Resource Co., was provided by Solid Waste Division Manager Carl Michaud. Tour participants showed strong interest in the technology, agreeing that "this visit alone was worth the trip."

Haze monitoring activities in Malaysia continue next week, as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) conducts a week-long seminar July 13-17. This event is a follow-up to late�1997 EPA monitoring activities undertaken at the government�s request to assess the human health impacts of the Indonesian fires. Through the July seminar, EPA representatives Tom Hartledge, Les Grant, Joe Pinto, and Jane Metcalfe will share the results of the monitoring assessments with representatives of the Malaysian Ministry of Science, Technology & Environment (MOSTE), as well as the Malaysian Departments of Health and Climatology and additional participants invited by MOSTE. US-AEP/Malaysia is helping to coordinate efforts with the Malaysian attendees. The EPA team will be in Singapore July 20-22 to undertake similar work.

The latest issue of CAREline�an international publication dedicated to the chemical industry�s Responsible Care^� initiative�included an article written by Conchita Silva, Asian Program Manager for US-AEP�s Clean Technology and Environmental Management initiative, and Lisa Lumbao of US-AEP Communications. The article highlights Asian milestones in implementing Responsible Care^� and the efforts of US-AEP to support them. Read it on the US-AEP website at the following address: https://www.usaep.org/articles/article3.htm

"Women-Connect Asia," a website sponsored by the CanAsian Businesswomen�s Network and the Southeast Asia Gender Equity Program is featuring a story on how one US-AEP Environmental Exchange Program (EEP) participant�San Miguel Corporation�s Senior Environmental Officer Marietta Aguado�used her experience to improve her company�s environmental performance. Visit the site at: http://www.women-connect-asia.com/articles/us-aep.htm. Portia Persley of the Institute of International Education (IIE), which manages the EEP, worked with US-AEP Communications� Rhonda Vandeworp to place the article.

In June, US-AEP�s Operations staff confirmed nine U.S.-Asia environmental technology transactions that took place in early 1998. These nine sales represent more than $580,000 in U.S. environmental exports. Three of the transactions were agency-distributorship agreements in India, while two sales of air pollution equipment took place in Hong Kong ($462,000). Two water/wastewater equipment sales totaling $102,000 were conducted in Korea, and $23,000 in sales of laboratory equipment took place in Sri Lanka. Over the past year, US-AEP has facilitated the transfer of environmental goods and services to Asia worth approximately $15,000,000.

Congratulations!