USAID and US-AEP held an officially sponsored session on November 30 in Seattle, Washington, during the World Trade Organization�s Ministerial meetings to review U.S. government-supported programs promoting trade and the environment and other technology exports. Some 65 state legislators, local officials and Seattle-area business executives attended. The meetings, hosted by USAID Assistant Administrator Robert Randolph, featured presentations by Governor Dirk Kempthorne of Idaho, King County Executive Ron Sims, and former EPA Administrator William Ruckelshaus.

Peter Kimm, executive director of US-AEP, moderated a session on collaborative efforts with state and local governments. Melvin "Kip" Holden, state legislator from Louisiana, and Matt Morrison of the Pacific Northwest Economic Region reviewed US-AEP programs, administered by the Council of State Governments, that bring together state and local officials and American companies with their counterparts in Asia to address environmental problems. Other US-AEP programs highlighted at the session included the Environmental Technology Fund and the Environmental Exchange Program. Speaking as a beneficiary of one of two programs, Scot Cocanour of North Creek Analytical described how it helped develop his business, expand his company�s exports, and create jobs both in the Seattle area and at new offices his company established in Asia.

Emmy Simmons of USAID�s Global Bureau described how the Global Technology Network (GTN) provides trade leads and business matching services in developing countries for U.S. firms. Gilbert Benjamin of Vortex Technologies, Inc. described how his company has expanded its overseas operations through the GTN.

A delegation from the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) visited Thailand November 9-12 to study ways to increase private sector involvement in preserving the environment. The delegation hoped to learn from Thailand�s successful creation of institutes for the environment and business councils for sustainable development. The study tour was supported by the US-AEP State Environmental Initiative (SEI) project between North Carolina and Vietnam.

The delegation, led by Ms. Nguyen Phan Chung of the ASEAN Department of VCCI, met with representatives of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, Thai Environmental Institute, Federation of Thai Industries, Pollution Control Department, and private sector companies. Mr. Kitti Kumpeera, US-AEP�s Urban Environmental Infrastructure Representative in Thailand, organized the visit for the Vietnamese delegation. [Note: The State Environmental Initiative is administered by the Council of State Governments.]

Gaston Systems, Inc. of North Carolina used a US-AEP Environmental Technology Fund grant to hold a seminar and training session at the Taegu Dyeing Research Center, October 25-26. Gaston demonstrated its Chemical Foam System (CFS) technology to more than 100 dyeing technical experts at the session. Since CFS does not use water for the dyeing process, it will help reduce water pollution caused by the toxic chemical effluents produced from traditional dyeing processes. Representatives from the Korean dyeing industry will visit Gaston�s facilities in North Carolina this December.

US-AEP/Korea helped organize the seminar, and had previously assisted Gaston in a $330,000 sale of it CFS technology. Mr. Christoph Aurich, managing director at Gaston, spoke highly of Technology Representative Chi-Sun Lee�s efforts in helping Gaston into the Korean market: "It means a great deal to those who are not familiar with a specific market to have one who knows the culture, speaks the language and who is willing to make the necessary effort to introduce one to the right people." [The Environmental Technology Fund is administered by the National Association of State Development Agencies.]