US-AEP provided support for a groundbreaking �Workshop on Biomass Derived Ethanol as Automotive Fuels� held in Thailand on August 30-31. The workshop was principally sponsored by the Ford Motor Company, Thailand�s National Science and Technology Development Agency, and the National Ethanol Development Committee.

In his opening remarks, Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai emphasized the potential for ethanol to reduce Thailand�s dependence on imported oil and to develop new markets for its abundant agricultural goods. The Minister of Science, Technology and Environment, Arthit Ourirat, also addressed the workshop participants, citing the potential of ethanol fuel to alleviate the country�s urban air pollution from transportation sources.

U.S. Ambassador to Thailand Richard Hecklinger and US-AEP Deputy Executive Director Richard Sheppard both attended the workshop, whose participants included academics, engineers, and policy experts prominent in the field of biomass derived ethanol. Work on developing ethanol fuel will continue under a memorandum of understanding signed by Ford Motor Company and the Thai National Science and Technology Development Agency to conduct collaborative research and development on bio-ethanol fuels.

The National Association of State Development Agencies (NASDA) awarded the Environmental Technology Fund (ETF) grant to the following five U.S. environmental firms to help them develop markets in Asia.

Arctech, Inc., from Chantilly, Virginia, markets a patented technology to remediate metal-contaminated process/waste streams generated by the electroplating, tannery, and metal finishing industries. In early 2001, the company will set up a project demonstration in the southern Indian state of Tamilnadu. Micro-Bac International, Inc., of Round Rock, Texas, will enter the Indian marketplace through a partnership with Netel Chromatographs Corporation in India. Micro-Bac, which markets products that remediate oil spills, industrial wastewater, and animal waste, may begin product shipments to India by the end of this year.

Miox Corporation, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, focuses on innovative water treatment systems to produce potable drinking water. Beginning this month, the company will market its system in India through distribution agents and buyers. Solex Robotics Systems, Inc., from Houston, Texas, plans to

commercialize a robotic technology for the chemical and petroleum industries in Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Brunei through joint ventures with Southeast Asian partners. Solex, which plans demonstrations for early 2001, markets explosion-proof remote-operated robots to perform maintenance and inspection tasks in storage tanks.

Southwest Windpower, Inc., of Flagstaff, Arizona, markets battery-charging wind generators in the U.S., Canada, Europe, Africa, and South America. The fund will allow the company to set up a distribution system for its products in India, Bangladesh, and Vietnam, beginning with meetings in Vietnam in November 2000. 

The ETF grant offers matching funds of up to $20,000 to generate business relationships that foster Asian and American economic development and help address the environmental challenges facing Asia.

[The Environmental Technology Fund is administered by the National Association of State Development Agencies.]

US-AEP, the Ministry of the Environment (ENV), and the Singapore Chemical & Industry Council (SCIC) co-sponsored �The Control of Trace Organic Emissions� workshop in Singapore from August 22-24. The workshop addressed the sources and effects of trace organic emissions on health and the environment, highlighted relevant local requirements, provided an overview of Responsible Care, and explained the latest volatile organic compounds (VOC) monitoring techniques and best practices from the U.S.

Mr. Jonathan Bensky, US-AEP�s Senior Commercial Officer in Singapore, gave the welcoming address at the opening ceremony. Other speakers included Mr. LOH Ah Tuan, Director of Environmental Policy & Management for ENV, and Mr. OOI Chwee Kim, Chairman of SCIC. 

Two California EPA experts knowledgeable in trace organic control and management addressed workshop participants, who also paid a site visit to Jurong Island Petrochemical Complex and GATX Terminals.

The US-AEP Environmental Exchange Program (EEP) continues to sponsor various study tours. Dr. Dennis Elliott of Wind Resource Assessment at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory was a presenter at a conference held September 4-7 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on �Business and Investment Forum for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency in Asia and the Pacific 2000.� The conference was designed to facilitate renewable energy and energy efficiency (RE&EE) projects around the world, particularly in Asia and the Pacific.

Eleven participants from Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam, and Indonesia attended the �Cities Matter: Principles and Practices of Environmental Services Management� conference in Indonesia from August 27-September 1. The conference focused on financial and management issues in the fields of sanitary waste and sewer systems, potable water systems, storm water drainage, and transportation. 

[The Environmental Exchange Program is administered by the Institute for International Education.]

The Illinois-Philippine Cost Accounting Project, a State Environmental Initiative (SEI) project administered by the Council of State Governments (CSG), officially ended in October 1999. However, the Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) continues to conduct the �Environmental Cost Assessment: Profiting from Cleaner Production� training course that was originally developed by the Illinois EPA, Tellus Institute, and the Asian Institute of Management. In addition, PICPA has branched out to offer introductory courses for accountants and other professionals in more than 20 Philippine cities.

PICPA now hopes to disseminate its environmental cost accounting knowledge and expertise to other areas in Asia. One prominent venue for PICPA will be the Confederation of Asia Pacific Accountants (CAPA) Convention, scheduled for November in Manila.

The Washington Policy Group will host a Policy Forum on Tuesday, October 3. Mr. S. Harith, Minister-Counsellor of Economics at the Embassy of Malaysia, participated in developing Malaysia�s 10-year industrial plan. He will discuss current trends in the country�s manufacturing sector, as well as future national economic and industrial goals.

The Policy Forum will take place at 1720 Eye Street NW, Suite 700, starting at 12:30 p.m. For more information, contact Brenda Bateman at (202) 835-0333, ext. 104 or bbateman@usaep.org.

Welcome

US-AEP welcomes Amelie Van Den Bos, a trade analyst with the Environmental Technology Network for Asia (ETNA). Amelie received a B.S. in Biology and International Studies from Yale University. She recently returned from China, where she worked as a program coordinator for the Global Village of Beijing, a Chinese environmental NGO, and as an English instructor at the Hunan Medical University.

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