The US-AEP Annual Meeting ran from October 9 to 13. In his opening remarks, Executive Director, Peter Kimm emphasized the successes of US-AEP in "changing Asia for the better", working with local officials, NGO�s, and multilateral partners to reduce poverty and increase environmental awareness and quality in Asia. He cited the upcoming Pacific Mayor�s Summit, US-AEP�s collaboration with ASEAN, APEC, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the World Bank, and the Global Reporting Initiative as examples of successful partnerships with key decision makers laying the foundation for future programs. US-AEP efforts have helped U.S. firms do $1.2 billion of business in the last eight years, and will continue to provide support and access to Asian environmental markets. Mr. Kimm also emphasized the importance of the country work plans as "tools for empowerment" for Tech Reps in identifying opportunities and new programs for US-AEP and its partners.

Plenary and non-plenary sessions focused on reports by US-AEP partners, including reports from the Department of Commerce, EPA, and special address from USAID Assistant Administrator Robert Randolph. Improving air quality in Thailand, the Seattle-Haiphong relationship, the promotion of energy efficiency in the Philippines, and ongoing programs in India and Sri Lanka were some of the topics discussed in individual sessions.

In addition, Certificates of Appreciation were awarded to the teams from India and the Philippines, Chan Yiu Kei, Tech Rep from Singapore, Jack Kneeland, Tech Rep from Thailand, and Vivian How, Tech Rep from Malaysia, for their hard work and dedication. A special Certificate of Appreciation was awarded to Mr. Randolph for his steadfast support of US-AEP and its mission.

US-AEP has helped supply clean water to Indonesia since 1998. Working with the Water Environment Federation (WEF), the government of Indonesia, the Asian Development Bank (ADB), and the World Bank, US-AEP and USAID developed an ongoing five-year strategy to improve price, availability, and quality of water for Indonesian consumers.

US-AEP�s ongoing assistance was important at different stages of the process. The Water Efficiency Team (WET) projects identified 20 local water districts capable of achieving commercial viability, while providing expertise and information to aid the transition. US-AEP also piloted two projects -- the Water Indicators for Satisfaction Evaluation (WISE) and the Women�s Institutions for Local Development (WILD) � designed to enhance consumer participation in local government decision making and spread information on rates and rate setting for local water projects.

US-AEP will also, with possible assistance from WEF, implement a Water Enterprise Functional Training project to increase the professionalism and financial ability of local governments water managers and regulators. Finally, US-AEP will participate in a CLEAN Urban project to enable the central government to help support local officials with commercial viability and the provision of water services. Follow-up programs will help consolidate the gains made in the first three years of the strategy and will lay the foundation for the expansion of clean, safe water supplies for Indonesia.

With significant US-AEP participation, the World Bank launched a second round of support for the City Development Strategy (CDS) program with a workshop in Manila from October 2 � October 4, 2000.

Supported by US-AEP, the Environmental Exchange Program (EEP), and the American Consulting Engineer Council (ACEC) two experts from the U.S. conducted a workshop on urban planning. The American experts shared their knowledge and expertise in the use of data management and Information Technology in fostering a city development strategy with more than 60 participants from pilot cities and cities new to the World Bank program.

In addition to the CDS meeting, US-AEP Manila, ACEC, and USAID, cooperated with the Coordinating Council for Private Sector Participation (CCPSP) to organize a conference on water project privatization in the Philippines on October 4 and 5.

80 participants shared information regarding public-private partnership in the development and implementation of water projects. The conference gathered the major players in the water sector, including officials from water districts and local government units (LGU) with potential for privatization ventures, officials from the Local Waterworks Utilities Administration (LWUA), and from regulatory, oversight and donor agencies.

ACEC also organized a roundtable discussion and reception for the representatives of the water districts and LGUs to exchange views with U.S. firms interested in PSP water projects.

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

EEP and CTEM are working with the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) of Calcutta on a long-term program to improve environmental management in Indian industry.

The most powerful and active business association in eastern India, the ICC established, with aid from CTEM, an Environment Management Center in 1998, to promote environmental management as a tool to increase productivity and competitiveness of Indian industry. EEP sponsorship of a visit by senior level officials to the U.S. between September 23 and September 30 supported the ICC�s effort to establish a long-term partnership with an American institution that assists local industries on environmental management issues.

US-AEP and the Foreign Commercial Service (FCS) shared a booth in the U.S. Pavilion at the 2000 PSA Asia/Watertec Asia Exhibition, held in Singapore from September 25- September 28.

The exhibition, focusing on waste water, chemical, and material handling and treatment equipment, was opened by the Singapore Senior Minister of State for the Environment, Mr. Sidek Saniff, and was attended by Mr. Herbert Schulz, DCM, and Mr. Stephan Helgesen, DSCO, of the U.S. Embassy. The four day show was accorded Mega Trade Fair status by the Singapore Trade Development Board, and attracted more than 1000 international exhibitors and over 26,000 visitors from Singapore, Europe, the United States, China, India, Indonesia, Korea, and other Asian countries.

Congratulations to all the associates of the US-AEP office in Malaysia for winning the prestigious Director General�s Excellence Award from the FCS. They were one of only eight groups worldwide to receive the award. Way to Go!

Policy Forum Update

The Washington Policy Group will not meet on October 24. The next meeting will be November 7 with Dr. Julie Fox Gorte, Environment and Technology Analyst with The Calvert Group. Dr, Fox will discuss "How One Socially Responsible Investment Fund Firm Evaluates High Tech Companies". The meeting will be in the US-AEP Office at 1720 Eye Street, NW, Suite 700, from 12:30p.m. to 1:30 p.m. For more information, contact Brenda Bateman at (202) 835-0333, ext. 104 or bbateman@usaep.org

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