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U.S.
medical waste experts share solutions at India conferences.
Medical waste conferences in Baroda and Chennai, India, featured four
U.S. experts on medical waste, thanks to the efforts of US-AEP/India
Technology Representatives Suneel Parasnis and Sundaresan Subramanian, US-AEP�s
Environmental Exchange Program (EEP), and local co-sponsors. Representing
Larsen Engineers (Rochester, New York), Biosystems Inc. (Farmingdale, New
York), Nightingale Institute for Environmental Strategies Inc. (Burlington,
Vermont), and the Center for Environmental Health (San Francisco,
California), the experts shared their knowledge with participants at the
First National Conference on Medical Waste Management in Baroda and the
Regional Conference on Medical Waste Management in Chennai.
The February 6-7 conference in Baroda, hosted by the Baroda Management
Association, attracted more than 350 participants from federal, state, and
municipal governments, as well as prominent nongovernmental organizations
(NGOs), healthcare institutions, and medical associations. Information was
presented on waste identification and segregation, alternative treatment
technologies, training and educational needs, and the establishment of
common facilities. In addition to the presenters from the U.S., remarks were
given by officials from the city of Mumbai and the Bhumata Charitable Trust.
These individuals are former EEP participants who are now putting into
practice ideas and techniques learned in earlier exchanges. The event
received extensive press coverage from 17 newspapers and other media
outlets.
The Chennai conference, hosted February 9-10 by the Tamil Nadu Pollution
Control Board, drew about 310 participants, 120 of whom traveled on hospital
site visits that highlighted medical waste management techniques currently
used in India. Former EEP grantees, representing the Indian Medical
Association, Central Pollution Control Board, and National Institute of
Mental Health and Neurosciences, shared their experiences with attendees.
(Note: The Environmental Exchange Program is implemented by the Institute of
International Education.)
US-AEP
State Environmental Initiative fosters lasting partnerships.
A report recently completed by a private consultant commends US-AEP�s
State Environmental Initiative (SEI) as an "unqualified success as a
federal-state partnership." The report was commissioned by International
Resources Group, the lead contractor for US-AEP�s Technical Services and
Support Contract.
The SEI, which is administered by the Council of State Governments (CSG),
was launched in October 1994 to provide matching funds on a competitive
basis to nonprofit state agencies. These agencies work with private
companies, universities, and other government agencies to develop and
implement environmental and economic improvement projects. Since inception,
SEI has approved 25 projects in 21 states, enabling more than 100 state
agencies in Asia and 60 U.S. firms to work together in 10 Asian countries.
The projects are designed to help establish long-term partnerships within
American states and between the U.S. and Asian countries. For example, the
Vermont-Indonesia "sister lake" project--led by the Vermont Agency of
Natural Resources with the participation of 18 other public and private
institutions--resulted in a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the
governors of Vermont and Northern Sumatra for collaboration on various
environmental and economic activities. Another MOU was signed between the
Vermont Lake Champlain Basin Science Center and the Lake Toba Heritage
Foundation for cooperative efforts on watershed management. In fact, 10 of
the first 19 projects led to the signing of formal agreements between U.S.
and Asian institutions for long-term partnerships. Sixteen of the 18 have
resulted in partnerships that are still active.
In addition to the environmental benefits to Asia, the report states that
SEI has led to $4.3 million in confirmed sales of U.S. environmental
equipment and services from the first 18 projects--more than double US-AEP�s
investment.
New on the
US-AEP website: Perceived corruption in Asia.
A new addition to the Export-Link� section of US-AEP�s website reports on
the reported problems of corruption in Asia, as analyzed by Political and
Economic Risk Consultancy Ltd. and Transparency International. Their
research reveals the views of expatriate businesspeople and compares how the
perceived corruption in Asia stacks up to other markets. To read the
article, visit US-AEP�s website at
https://www.usaep.org/export/
Recent
technology transfer successes.
Following are a few of the sales, facilitated by US-AEP Technology
Representatives, that have been confirmed over the last three months. In
Hong Kong: Ecowater Systems of Minnesota sold $32,600 worth of water
treatment equipment to Polyrich Holding Ltd. of Hong Kong. In Korea:
Hydro-Max Technologies, Inc. of Florida sold an $8,000 fuel combustion
enhancer through their local distributor Eco Tech Corporation; North
American Mfg. Co. of Ohio sold $47,500 worth of waste incineration equipment
to Kyung In Corporation; and Harmsco of Florida sold $8,000 of equipment
through their local distributor Oh Kyung Envatech Co. Ltd. In the
Philippines: Environmental Technologies International of Montana, with
its local partner Schema Konsult, won a contract worth $39,000 to treat
toxic and hazardous wastes in power plants operated by the government�s
National Power Corporation. Also, Philippines firm Clean Systems Technology,
Inc. contracted to be the local distributor for U.S. firms Environmental
Research & Development, Inc. of Idaho and Petrosorb, Inc. of Washington. In
Singapore: Eco Tech Systems International Inc. of Pennsylvania signed
a joint venture with local firm Probity Enterprises Pte Ltd. for wastewater
treatment projects. And in Sri Lanka: Vincent Corporation of Florida
sold $11,600 worth of hydraulic pollution control equipment to Maxie�s & Co.
Pvt. Ltd.
ADB and
U.S. DOC announces U.S. business opportunity seminars.
With over fifty percent of the world�s population, and 11 of the 20 most
populated cities, Asia has tremendous needs for new infrastructure and
technology. To encourage U.S. companies to compete for these project, the
Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service of
the U.S. Department of Commerce will conduct procurement seminars in three
U.S. cities this March. ADB experts will be on hand to discuss opportunities
emanating from the bank�s $6 billion annual project portfolio, as well as to
help U.S. firms learn how to prepare a bid on the banks� projects. The first
seminar will be in Denver, Colorado, on March 26 and will be followed by
stops in Orange County, California, on March 26 and Chicago, Illinois, on
March 29-30. In addition to the tour, a stand-alone business briefing will
be held in Salt Lake City, Utah, on March 24. For more information,
please contact Barbara White by telephone, 202-482-3399, or by fax,
202-273-0927 . |
