President Clinton was the first U.S. President to visit a unified Vietnam on November 17-19. In a visit that is viewed as �opening a new chapter� with Vietnam, President Clinton stressed economic reforms that support the conditions of the bilateral trade agreement. The environment and US-AEP played an important role in the President�s visit. Throughout the trip, President Clinton urged his counterparts to ensure that Vietnam experiences equitable and environmentally friendly growth. In a speech delivered at Ho Chi Minh City�s Saigon port, in which Jim Carlson, US-AEP/Vietnam Country Director, acted as the translator, President Clinton spoke of the benefits of trade and investment, and the importance of creating a climate in Vietnam in which both Vietnamese and foreign enterprise can thrive. The President added, "We know today that protecting the environment is good for the economy." In another speaking engagement at the National University of Hanoi, the President also spoke of US-AEP and U.S. EPA�s work to phase out leaded gasoline in Vietnam. As a result of this campaign, the Vietnamese Prime Minister had just signed the directive to phase out leaded gasoline in Vietnam by July 2001.

Secretary of Commerce Norman Mineta also recognized US-AEP�s work in Vietnam. Addressing a large business group in Hanoi, Secretary Mineta spoke of Commerce�s relationship with US-AEP and how US-AEP offers training in environmental protection. Secretary Mineta stated, "By investing in the environmental, financial, and legal infrastructure of the country, companies are helping to realize Vietnam�s potential in ways that will benefit all involved."

USAID/US-AEP held a closing workshop and celebrated the completion of the first phase of the Haiphong � Seattle partnership. Mr. Henry Sharpe, Principle Strategic Advisor to the City of Seattle and Haiphong, had completed three months of work that addressed strategic city planning, low income housing, and business promotion. USAID Asia and the Near East Bureau Assistant Administrator, Robert Randolph said, "USAID is delighted to be involved in supporting the partnership between Haiphong and Seattle through the Resource Cities Program. We are confident that the city of Seattle will be able to assist Haiphong with city planning and urban environmental management." In addition to this celebration, Mr. Randolph was in Vietnam to open the USAID/ Vietnam office.

The Ford Conservation and Environmental Awards program in the Philippines is complete. Over the last three months, US-AEP worked with Ford on this project, holding several coordination and planning meetings, and helping publicize the program. 122 proposals were received and 28 were selected for the judges� consideration. Of the three judges, US-AEP recommended one and recruited another. The judges selected nine proposals to be given cash awards totaling $65,000. The projects included youth environmental clubs, preservation of endemic and endangered species, mangrove restoration and bamboo planting as a livelihood project for an indigenous, forest dwelling group. 

The successful participants were invited to an awards ceremony on November 16. The President of Ford Philippines congratulated all the recipients and gave US-AEP a great deal of recognition and thanks for our commitment to the program. The project generated a large amount of publicity for US-AEP, strengthened the ties between US-AEP and Ford�s �greening the supply chain� activities, and enabled US-AEP to refer several of the urban proposals to the World Bank for funding consideration.

Co-sponsored by US-AEP, the Chemtech World Expo and Trade Show 2000 was held in Mumbai, India, from November 10 to 15, 2000. The Western Indian office of US-AEP worked closely with Chemtech officials to identify participants and promote attendance at the event among US-AEP�s network of partners in Asia. The input of US-AEP helped put environmental concerns on the Chemtech agenda, and prompted officials to call a Global Summit on Energy and Environment as part of the expo. The Global Summit heard from more than 20 environmental experts recruited by US-AEP on topics ranging from the challenges and opportunities of energy efficiency, policy matters, and project finance, to EPC contracting competitiveness, and environmental solutions.

US-AEP, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and EPA partnered with the Philippine Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to conduct a workshop to develop a strategic framework for the Metro Manila Air Quality Public Awareness Campaign. The workshop held November 14-16 at the ADB's headquarters in Manila, included USEPA representatives Kristy Miller, Melissa Jaeger, Fran Burns, and Sarita Hoyt. EPA also supported the participation of US consultant Jerald McNeil, who has long-standing environmental and community outreach experience at the local and state level. 

The Council of State Governments (CSG) is seeking applications from businesses and groups interested in accompanying a trade mission to India February 15-19, 2001. The mission is in conjunction with the SEI-supported California/India Greening of the Supply Chain project. The mission will participate in a CII trade and technology transfer event, and will open access to a wide range of Indian industries interested in clean technology and energy efficiency. For more information and registration forms, go to the CSG website at www.sei-asia.org/projects/1999/ca_india/events . 

The Policy Forum will begin a Winter/Spring session on January 9, 2001 with Mr. Murray Hiebert, Washington Bureau Chief of the Far Eastern Economic Review, discussing "The New US President�What this means for Asia". Topics will include new policy directions, and the views Asian leaders will have of the new administration. The meeting will be in the US- AEP Office at 1720 Eye Street, NW, Suite 700, from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. For more information, contact Brenda Bateman at (202) 835-0333, ext. 104 or bbateman@usaep.org .

Arrivals & Departures

Paul Weishaupt, Director of Communications at US-AEP for 2 years, has left for a new position. We all wish him well in his new endevour. We would also like to welcome the new System Administrator to the US-AEP technical support staff. Malvin Grey spent 5 years in the Army as a Satellite Communications expert, and has recently been employed by Marriot, the Executive Office of the Presidency, and NAVSEA as a Network Support Technician.

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