On June 13, Bob Randolph, Assistant Administrator of USAID�s Asia & Near East Bureau, spoke at US-AEP�s Washington Policy Forum to a standing-room only crowd. Mr. Randolph discussed the Asia & Near East Bureau�s vision for the future.

When Mr. Randolph came to the Bureau, he said his goals were simple: to increase Asia�s overall profile within the Agency, integrate economic growth with environmental protection, and promote economic reform and clear-cut investment rules in Asia. On all three points, he reported success. "With a small cadre of dedicated professionals we have done great work," he said.

By developing support in the private sector as well as on Capitol Hill and by promoting American technologies and environmental policy solutions, Mr. Randolph felt the Bureau could continue to work for an expanded role in Asia. He felt that US-AEP served to help USAID be more successful in its mission, noting that "We have a beautiful story, and US-AEP helps us tell it."

The Hon. J. Brady Anderson, Administrator, USAID will address senior government officials and key business leaders on U.S. business opportunities in the climate-change field in the Rayburn Office Bldg., Room B-369 this Thursday, June 22, at 12:00pm. Peter Kimm, Executive Director, United States-Asia Environmental Partnership Program, will also deliver remarks on technology transfer initiatives in Asia.

Over the past five years, USAID has successfully implemented climate-change initiatives in over 40 countries. The goals have been to reduce emissions and pollution vulnerabilities in a wide range of sectors including energy efficiency and renewable energy, industrial pollution prevention, sustainable agriculture, forest conservation, improved urban infrastructure services, and disaster assistance. A critical component to these successes has been the transfer of less carbon-intensive technologies to developing countries from U.S. businesses.

According to USAID, the demand for climate-friendly technologies will jump from $30 billion (U.S.) to over $50 billion (U.S.) in the coming decade. As per capita income grows so will the desire for environmental responsibility and stronger measures aimed at reducing pollution and conserving resources.

We will be sending the agenda for the event in a separate email. You will not want to miss this important event. To schedule your attendance, please call Mr. Dan Houton, Congressional Economic Leadership Institute, at 202 546-5007, or email to dhouton@celi.org.

"This conference signifies the world�s oldest and the world�s largest democracies joining hands," said Bob Randolph, Assistant Administrator of USAID�s Asia & Near East Bureau. Indeed, the June 1 event, co-sponsored by the U.S.-India Business Council and US-AEP, featured His Excellency Suresh Prabhu, the Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers for the Government of India, as well as representatives from the EPA, DOC, DOE, private industry, and several other state and non-governmental agencies.

The goal of the conference was to discuss ways to promote U.S. involvement in the rapidly growing Indian chemical industry. Presentations highlighted the many market opportunities in the Indian chemical industry, the positive impact which environmental management of industrial estates could have on the development of India�s chemical industry, and the opportunities available to U.S. companies wanting to work in and with India.

The National Association for State Development Agencies � NASDA � also announced that twelve $2,000 Environmental Technology Fund Grants would be made available to help U.S. firms desiring to go to India Chem 2000, to be held on October 6-8 in New Delhi, India. Those wanting more information should visit: http://www.indiachem2000.com

A Green Government Procurement Study Tour was held recently in Washington DC, Boston MA, and Santa Monica CA. It was a part of the Clean Technology and Environmental Management�s (CTEM) Memorandum of Understanding with the Philippines Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). The objective of the tour was to allow DENR representatives the opportunity to meet with a variety of U.S. government agencies and other institutions to facilitate a green procurement program. The study tour was made possible with the support of US-AEP�s Environmental Exchange Program (EEP).

The Minnesota-Thailand Cleaner Production and Environmental Management Initiative seeks to achieve the long-term transfer of Minnesota know-how, technology, practice, goods, and services to Thailand. The project also recognizes that strong commercial and trade relations between Thailand and Minnesota will make a concrete contribution to improving Thailand�s environmental quality.

Kevin O�Donnell, Project Director of the Thailand-Minnesota Initiative, recently had a chance to meet with USAID Administrator, The Hon. J. Brady Anderson. Mr. Anderson expressed a great deal of support for the initiative stating, "American development assistance can stimulate free-market growth and promote democracy and the rule of law, all while promoting trade and U.S. exports."

The Initiative was funded in part through a $150,000 matching grant from US-AEP�s State Environmental Initiative (SEI) Program.

There will not be forum on June 27. The presentation previously scheduled for that date, "Natural Resources and Livable Cities: a View of Sustainability from the Interior" by David J. Hayes, Deputy Secretary of the US Department of the Interior, will now be held July 13. Our next forum will be on July 11 and features two visiting scholars from Resources for the Future, Ms. Ruth Greenspan Bell, Visiting Scholar, and Mr. Thomas Beierle, Fellow. They will be discussing "Governance, Public Participation, and the Decision-Making Process."

The Washing Policy Forum is held at 1720 Eye St. NW, Washington, DC, and starts at 12:30pm.

Welcome

Laura Shea is the new Technology Representative in Taiwan. Ms. Shea has worked in Beijing as an officer for the Foreign Commercial Service and in the Office of General Counsel, International Trade Administration at the Department of Commerce. Ms. Shea graduated from the University of Washington. She is a lawyer with expertise in trade and banking law, which will be an asset in her new position as Director of US-AEP in Taiwan.

Whitney Sims has joined the Technical Support Services Contract operations team. Ms. Sims comes to US-AEP with over ten years of managerial and administrative experience with the International Resources Group. She studied Business Administration/Accounting at the State University of New York at Buffalo.

Farewell