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US-AEP
grant expands assistance to Indonesian water enterprises.
As reported in the October 12 UPDATE, US-AEP and the United States Agency
for International Development (USAID) are working to address water supply
problems in Indonesia. Almost one-third of the country's water enterprises
are close to shutting down due to the rising costs of water treatment
chemicals, electricity, and other inputs. To help combat this problem,
US-AEP approved a $20,000 one-time grant to the Association of Indonesian
Sanitary and Environmental Engineers (IATPI). This grant will enable up to
40 Indonesian engineers to augment US-AEP/USAID's Water Efficiency Team
(WET), which is evaluating key Indonesian water enterprises and recommending
rescue measures. With IATPI engineers on board, WET will be able to visit 20
additional enterprises. While helping to ensure that Indonesian citizens
have access to clean water, IATPI's involvement has an additional benefit.
Many of the engineers who will work with WET are unemployed, and through
this program will be able to use their engineering skills to contribute to
an important national recovery activity.
IATPI is co-financing almost $10,000 in WET costs during the first phase
of the project, providing for necessities such as office space and
accounting services. The Water Environment Federation (WEF), a US-AEP
partner, is also supporting this effort: WEF has provided IATPI with
computer equipment and technical manuals, as well as access to industry
experts through its international network.
Hong Kong
officials study waste management with NYC government.
In efforts to address waste management problems in Hong Kong, US-AEP's
Environmental Exchange Program arranged for Mr. So Wai Yin and Mr. Chan Hon-Kwong
of the Regional Services Department of Hong Kong to meet with
representatives of the New York City Department of Sanitation, the
Department of Health, the Department of Transportation, and Browning-Ferris
Industries. The U.S. participants in the November 4-6 meetings offered
insight and best practices for various waste management issues, including
contract management systems and waste collection services, management of
public toilets, and licensing and regulation of food providers. The
discussions enabled Mr. So and Mr. Chan to evaluate New York strategies that
could be used to improve Hong Kong�s waste management systems. The Hong Kong
officials� visit was further enhanced by meetings with solid waste experts
in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and Charlotte, North Carolina, where they
attended the 1998 World Congress of the International Solid Wastes
Association. (Note: The Environmental Exchange Program is implemented by the
Institute of International Education.)
Infrastructure privatization efforts continue with Thai workshop.
Building on a series of activities designed to impart U.S. environmental
infrastructure privatization strategies to Thai officials, US-AEP held a
workshop in Bangkok, Thailand, October 27-29. Participants included key
representatives of the Thai government, including the Bangkok Metropolitan
Administration, Provincial Waterworks Authority, Wastewater Management
Authority, and Pollution Control Department, as well as the private sector.
Deputy Prime Minister Suwit Khunkitti and U.S. Ambassador William H. Itoh
presided over the opening ceremony, while Jeremy Hagger of the US-AEP
Secretariat provided a keynote speech on US-AEP's infrastructure program.
One workshop component�the Thai Environmental Infrastructure Privatization
Roundtable�played a key role in promoting the privatization process. During
this event, 40 senior-level Thai government officials and U.S. executives
shared privatization strategies for water, wastewater, and solid and
hazardous waste projects.
US-AEP's efforts to promote infrastructure privatization will continue in
1999 with a number of activities for Thai participants, including a workshop
on water and wastewater operations and management, site visits to U.S. water
management facilities, and study tours focusing on U.S. medical waste
handling techniques.
US-AEP
champions environmental due diligence at Environtech '98.
As mentioned in last week's issue of UPDATE, the first-ever American
Pavilion for U.S. environmental technologies was held at Environtech '98 in
Manila, Philippines. Another significant event at Environtech was an October
30 environmental risk management workshop arranged by US-AEP's Environmental
Exchange Program (EEP) and hosted by Philippine Business for the Environment
(PBE) and US-AEP's Clean Technology and Environmental Management program.
Speakers from the Environmental Units at the Philippines' Land Bank and
Development Bank�both of whom are leaders in incorporating environmental
factors into investment decisions�reported that environmental due diligence
has been a powerful tool for improving the quality of their investments.
US-AEP Field Representative Dennis Zvinakis provided opening comments, while
EEP's Russ Thirkell presented an overview of bank and industry incentives
for improving environmental performance in the future. This event is part of
a larger US-AEP strategy to help Asian banks improve the environment while
improving the soundness of their financial decisions.
Electric
vehicle promotion in Nepal leads to U.S. sales.
Using a US-AEP Environmental Technology Fund grant, U.S. nongovernmental
organization Global Resources Institute of Eugene, Oregon, showcased eight
electric vehicles in Kathmandu, Nepal, where air pollution is a serious
problem. According to the NGO�s Assistant Director, Marilyn Cohen, this
demonstration led to the establishment of several electric vehicle companies
in Kathmandu which have now manufactured 100 electric three-wheelers. The
use of U.S. electronics and batteries in the manufacture of the vehicles has
generated almost $400,000 in sales for the American firms that supply these
components. If the environmentally friendly electric three-wheeler continues
to be popular, it is estimated that the project could generate sales of
several million dollars for U.S. firms. In addition, noting the success of
this project, the Danish government has now invested $5 million in Kathmandu
to promote the use of electric vehicles. (Note: The Environmental Technology
Fund is managed by the National Association of State Development Agencies.)
Mayor's
Asia-Pacific Environmental Summit scheduled for early 1999.
US-AEP is one of the sponsors of the Mayor's Asia-Pacific Environmental
Summit, a three-day conference and technological exhibition taking place in
Honolulu, Hawaii, January 31-February 3, 1999. The conference will address
the environmental challenges facing cities and towns across the Asia-Pacific
region. In addition, an exposition will enable leading international
environmental companies to showcase their technologies and services. U.S.
Vice President Al Gore is the scheduled keynote speaker. More information
and brochures can be obtained through Lynette Char, conference manager, via
telephone (808-527-5415) or e-mail (aaa0030@co.honolulu.hi.us). |
