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US-AEP
explores partnership with Bangkok Metropolitan Authority.
During a recent trip to Washington, D.C., Bangkok
Governor Dr. Bhichit Rattakul met with US-AEP Executive Director Peter Kimm
to discuss an official partnership with the Bangkok Metropolitan
Administration (BMA). US-AEP�s strong relationship with BMA has developed
through the activities of several program partners, including the California
Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),
U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC), and Kenan Institute-Asia (KIAsia).
During Governor Bhichit�s visit, KIAsia and DOC
worked with US-AEP to hold a November 19 business briefing. This forum
enabled the governor to address more than 30 senior U.S. business
representatives on BMA's plans to privatize collection and disposal or
operations in several sectors, including wastewater and solid waste. In
addition, through EPA coordination, the governor toured an air emissions
monitoring station and a solid waste incineration site. Travel for these
site tours was supported by The Asia Foundation, another US-AEP partner.
US-AEP�s work with BMA is designed to support
greater U.S. involvement in Bangkok�s ambitious privatization program. In
the coming year, US-AEP will investigate a wide range of activities with BMA,
including an urban air demonstration project, medical waste privatization
tour, environmental enforcement training, establishment of an enforcement
center, document preparation for build-own-operate solid waste projects,
water management study tour, and a water and wastewater operations and
management workshop.
Greening of
Industry Network holds seventh conference in Rome.
The Greening of Industry Network held its seventh
International Conference in Rome, Italy, November 15-18. More than 300
professionals from the academic, government, corporate, and nongovernmental
organization communities attended the event. Dr. Somporn Kamolsiripichaiporn,
coordinator of the Network�s Asia Office in Bangkok, Thailand, participated
in the conference together with Dr. Melito Salazar, undersecretary for
Industry and Investment, Philippines, and Mr. Phairuch Mekarporn, managing
director of Siam Kraft, Thailand, as part of the official delegation. Mr.
Owen Cylke, coordinator of The Policy Group at US-AEP, also attended. The
conference highlighted several emerging themes for business, including
corporate social responsibility, product stewardship, shifting consumer
needs, sustainable consumption, trade and the environment, and technology
cooperation. Other important new concepts were also discussed, such as
eco-efficiency and by-product synergy.
Dr. Somporn will serve on the Planning Committee
for the eighth International Conference, which will be organized by the
Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina, chaired
by Dr. Stuart Hart, and held November 14-17, 1999. The ninth International
Conference is planned for Bangkok in the year 2000.
US-AEP/Taiwan matchmaker event introduces U.S. environmental technologies.
Earlier this month, US-AEP�s Office of Technology
Cooperation in Taiwan hosted a three-day business development event for
seven U.S. environmental companies. The participating U.S. firms were
recruited from the states of Arizona, Idaho, and Texas, while an Alaskan
firm provided company brochures for display. The event was designed to help
U.S. companies find local partners--an imperative due to the complexity of
selling into Taiwan. To that end, more than 70 one-on-one meetings between
the U.S. firms and prospective Taiwanese partners were held over the course
of the three days. In addition to fostering potential partnerships, the
meetings served to maintain U.S. presence in Taiwan in the face of growing
European and Japanese exports to the region. While Taiwan has not suffered
economic distress to the degree of many other Asian economies, it has
suffered from American firms� general fear of the Asia market. (Note: US-AEP
Environmental Technology Fund, managed by the National Association of State
Development Agencies, facilitated the participation of four of the
companies.)
Singapore
officials seek chemical-handling trainers from U.S.
Seeking training courses in chemical handling for
their staff, Dr. Lin Yucheng and Mr. Srinivasan Ramabhadran of NOVO
Environmental Technology Services Pte. Ltd. (the commercial arm of the
Singapore Productivity and Standards Board) used US-AEP�s Environmental
Exchange Program to meet with three U.S. companies offering such courses. On
November 10-17, they attended courses and discussed course options with the
companies--American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) of Miami,
Florida; Primatech of Atlanta, Georgia; and Arthur D. Little, Inc. (ADL) of
Cambridge, Massachusetts. In particular, they were interested in courses
which included the topics of hazards evaluation, both qualitative and
quantitative methods; safety analysis and risk assessment; and consequence
assessment and mitigation. After they have evaluated the three programs, Dr.
Lin and Mr. Srinivasan will choose one of the companies to provide the
chemical-handling training courses in Singapore. (Note: US-AEP�s
Environmental Exchange Program is implemented by the Institute of
International Education.) |
