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US-AEP-supported extension organization is opened in India.
US-AEP�s Clean Technology and Environmental Management (CTEM) program
continues to promote extension systems in India with the opening of the
Indo-American Chamber of Commerce�s United States-Environmental Resource
Center (US-ERC) in Mumbai. The September 16 inauguration ceremony attracted
more than 150 people, including U.S. Ambassador to India Richard F.
Celeste. US-ERC is an industrial environmental extension organization
established in response to the growing need for improved industrial
environmental performance, energy efficiency, and urban environmental
management in India. Activities of US-ERC, with support from US-AEP, USAID,
and DOC�s Commercial Service, will include creating awareness among Indian
industry for adopting best practices and cleaner technologies, building an
effective database for providing extension services to industry, and
providing a forum for environmental outreach activities.
US-AEP has been involved the creation of the center for the past three
years. In December 1998, US-AEP/CTEM signed an MOU to provide a $25,000
grant to support the center. Suneel Parasnis, US-AEP Technology
Representative in Mumbai, and Subrata Mazumder, US-AEP/CTEM
Representative in India, have been actively involved in the creation of US-ERC.
The Indo-American Chamber of Commerce, with support from US-AEP and USAID,
will perform technical and management services for US-ERC. The Environmental
Information Center of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and
Industry, supported under USAID�s Clean Technology Initiative, will supply
environmental information services through online and technical assistance.
U.S. firm
makes $2.8 million sale in Korea with US-AEP support.
Bondtech Corporation of Somerset, Kentucky,
concluded a sale of its autoclave system, worth $2,830,000, to Baik Wol Hog
Farming Corporation of Korea with the assistance of US-AEP�s Office of
Technology Cooperation in Seoul and the Environmental Exchange Program (EEP).
In August 1999, US-AEP Technology Representative/Korea Chi-Sun Lee
arranged for Baik Wol officials to participate in an EEP-sponsored U.S.
study tour, including a visit to Bondtech�s facilities. The delegation was
introduced to Bondtech�s autoclave system, which converts food waste into
livestock feed. After months of negotiation, Baik Wol signed an agreement to
purchase the system on October 22. As Korean environmental regulations
tighten, Bondtech�s system is expected to gain additional acceptance as an
alternative to traditional methods of food waste disposal. Mr. Lee will
continue to assist the U.S. company in expanding their market presence
beyond this initial sale. [Note: EEP is administered by the Institute of
International Education.]
EPA signs
technical cooperative agreement with Thai ministry.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) signed an agreement with
the Thai Ministry of Science, Technology and the Environment (MOSTE) on
October 28 to provide a framework for technical cooperation between the two
organizations to work on environmental issues. The agreement will focus on
technical assistance and training activities with the three main
environmental departments in MOSTE: the Pollution Control Department (PCD),
the Office of Environmental Policy and Planning, and the Department of
Environmental Quality Promotion. Mr. William A. Nitze, EPA�s
assistant administrator for international activities, and Dr. Arthit
Ourairat, minister of MOSTE, signed the agreement for their respective
organizations. EPA has been working with MOSTE over the past few years
through US-AEP.
US-AEP/Thailand arranged for several events to coincide with the Bangkok
visit of Mr. Nitze, who was accompanied by Ms. Jane Nishida,
secretary of the Maryland Department of Environment, and Mr. Mark Kasman,
senior information officer and Thailand project manager for EPA. Events
included a roundtable discussion with the Bangkok Metropolitan
Administration (BMA) and an Urban Air Workshop conducted by Ms. Nishida and
Dr. Supat Wongwangwatana of the PCD.
US-AEP-sponsored Asian delegation tours environmental firms in Mississippi.
After attending the WEFTEC �99 conference and
exhibition in New Orleans in October, two US-AEP Technology Representatives
led a group of 30 Asian delegates from five countries to meet with
Mississippi environmental firms. The program was arranged by Mississippi
State officials both in Jackson and their overseas office in Singapore.
Singapore Technology Representative Chan Yiu Kei and Philippine
Deputy Technology Representative Mike Palma led the tour, which
included presentations by five Mississippi environmental firms and a site
visit to the NASA Space Center at Stennis to examine their environmental
capabilities. Members of the Asian delegation were enthusiastic about the
program Mississippi had arranged, which could potentially lead to future
sales for U.S. firms.
New on the
US-AEP website.
A speech by the U.S. Consul General Michael Klosson to the
American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, which includes a discussion on
US-AEP�s program in Hong Kong, has been added to the US-AEP website. It can
be found at
https://www.usaep.org/speech/speech15.htm.
Also new to the website: a forum discussion by Dr. Methi Wecharatana,
New Jersey Institute of Technology; Dr. Somporn Kamolsiripichaiporn,
Chulalongkorn University, Thailand; and Mr. Owen Cylke, US-AEP's
Policy Group, on "Asia, the Environment, and the Future of Development." The
discussion report can be downloaded as a MS Word file or an Adobe PDF file
at
https://www.usaep.org/policy/papers&reports.htm.
Exchange
participant wins environmental award in Taiwan.
US-AEP exchange participant Mr. Chen Ping-Hsien, senior
environmental engineer at TAISIL Electronics Materials Corporation, was
honored as one of "Taiwan Top Ten Environmental Professionals" in October.
Taiwan President Lee Teng-Hui presented the prestigious award to Mr.
Chen for innovative work in pollution prevention and wastewater recycling.
Mr. Chen participated in a December 1998 study tour through US-AEP�s
Environmental Exchange Program. The U.S. tour examined environmental
technology and management at semiconductor plants in California, Arizona,
and Texas. Mr. Chen applied some of the environmental management principles
he encountered on the tour to his company back in Taiwan.
Welcome and
Farewell.
Welcome to Jay Patchen, the new economic advisor for US-AEP. Jay
has previously worked for Nissho Iwai American Corporation, a Japanese
trading firm, and the U.S. House of Representatives� Subcommittee on
International Development, Finance, Trade and Monetary Policy. He received
his master�s degree in economics and finance from American University. Jay
will be based in the DC office and can be reached by phone at 202-835-0333,
ex. 108, and e-mail at
jpatchen@usaep.org.
And farewell to two staff members of US-AEP partners. Joe Pringle,
international coordinator for the National Pollution Prevention Roundtable (NPPR),
has resigned as of November 15 to join Hagler Bailly. Michele Russo
will be the new contact at NPPR for US-AEP activities at 202-466-7272 or
michelerusso@compuserve.com.
And Claire Desalla, director of international business for the
National Association of State Development Agencies, resigned as of October 1
to return to Delaware. Julie Pike will be the contact person for the
program at 202-898-1302 or
jpike@nasda.com. |
