Over $5 billion in project and procurement opportunities were presented at the US-Asia Clean Air Technologies Conference in Hong Kong, June 4-6, 2001. US-AEP and the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (TDA) jointly hosted the conference, attended by a wide range of U.S. and international organizations, such as the U.S. Export Import Bank, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the World Bank, the International Finance Corporation, and the Asian Development Bank.

More than forty Asian project sponsors from ten countries attended the conference with the theme "Matching U.S. Technologies with Asia's Clean Air Challenges." The main objective was to facilitate implementation of major projects and procurements in this sector. Much of the conference was devoted to presentations on projects, including stationary air pollution control, alternative fuel vehicles, energy efficiency upgrades, and vehicle inspection and maintenance systems. The participants and invited technical experts discussed projects, lessons learned, and new technologies and practices.

The 35 U.S. company representatives that attended had ample opportunity in one-on-one meetings and receptions to speak with project sponsors and others about how their technologies and services could help overcome air pollution challenges. A number of U.S. companies and Asian project sponsors noted that having project sponsors, U.S. and international financial institutions, and U.S. companies in the same meeting was the best way to move these projects forward to implementation.

The conference The conference briefing book, with over 45 detailed profiles of procurement opportunities, is available to U.S. companies by contacting US-AEP's Trade and Investment Adviser Doug Shuster at 202-835-0333 x153 or email: dshuster@usaep.org.

briefing book, with over 45 detailed profiles of procurement opportunities, is available to U.S. companies by contacting US-AEP's Trade and Investment Adviser Doug Shuster at 202-835-0333 x153 or email: dshuster@usaep.org.

CHENNAI, JUNE 20. The Director of the U.S.-Asia Environmental Partnership (US-AEP), Southern Region, India, Mr. Sundaresan Subramanian, has been conferred the "Region VI Environmental Professional Award for 2001," in recognition of his performance in the field.

The award is presented annually by the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE) of the U.S, the largest international association of energy and environment- involved professionals with members in 62 countries. The award is AEE's recognition of corporations and individuals, who have made notable contributions to the profession of energy and environment.

Previously, Mr. Subramanian received the AEE's globally renowned "Energy Professionals Development Award," for outstanding achievement in the field of energy management in 1996, and last year was awarded a World Environment Day Award from the Tamil Nadu Government.

The 2001 Revised Accountancy Curriculum is expected to be released soon by a Commission on Higher Education Memorandum Order. The revised curriculum integrates Environmental Management Accounting (EMA) into the core accounting subjects of Management Accounting and Advanced Accounting. This makes the Philippines one of the first countries to have formally included EMA in undergraduate accounting education.

Including EMA topics in the core subjects taken by accounting students will help give future Filipino accountants an environmental mindset. When applied, EMA practices can show that concern for the environment is compatible with a company's profitability.

US-AEP has supported environmental accounting-related activities in the Philippines through a 1998 CSG grant to the State of Illinois and the Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants and subsequent environmental exchanges. US-AEP recognizes Fatima Reyes, Chair of the Environmental Accounting Committee, for her efforts to make this program a success.

Four states will combine environmental technologies, expertise, and Asian interests to design environmental solutions under State Environmental Initiative (SEI) grants awarded in June by The Council of State Governments (CSG).

Representatives from the four winning states- Idaho, Colorado, California and Arizona- spent June 13 and 14 at The Council of State Governments in Lexington, Kentucky. There they discussed projects and expected results with CSG officials and the US-AEP Associate Director Jeremy Hagger. The Morrison Institute for Public Policy at Arizona State University will partner with Sri Lanka to address issues of energy efficiency and waste management. The University of Colorado will build a regional platform of urban environmental protection strategies for Hanoi, Vietnam. The California Air Resources Board will also be working in Vietnam on a project to strengthen the institutional air quality management capabilities of Vietnamese government agencies. The Idaho Department of Commerce will be transferring environmental science and engineering experience to Malaysia.

Project Directors visiting CSG headquarters had the opportunity to learn about the broad scope of the organization, and were addressed by Executive Director Dan Sprague and State Trends and Research Group (STAR) Director Bob Silvanik. For more information on these or other SEI projects, please visit the web site at www.sei-asia.org.

US-AEP and the National Association of State Development Agencies (NASDA) welcome Amanda Morris and Sarah Heidema to the NASDA program.

Amanda Morris is a new International Trade Specialist working on the NASDA/US-AEP Programs. She will be working primarily on projects in Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand, and Singapore, as well as the WEFTEC trade show. Amanda has a master's degree in international relations from George Washington University and an undergraduate degree from North Carolina State University. She comes to NASDA from Nomura Research Institute, a Japanese economic and policy research organization.        

Sarah Heidema is an International Trade Specialist working on NASDA/US-AEP programs. She will be working on projects in India, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Korea, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam, as well as the AWMA trade show. Sarah has a degree in international relations from George Washington University and comes to NASDA from a law firm specializing in international trade issues.

US-AEP bids congratulations and best wishes to Nao Ikemoto. Nao has served US-AEP for the past two years as an Associate in the Policy Group in Washington, DC. She will be leaving on July 20 to pursue a new opportunity in environmental consulting in New Jersey. We wish Nao the best.

We also express US-AEP's best wishes to Kyung Choe (K.C.), who has been the Commercial Assistant in the US- AEP/Korea office. K.C. will be moving to Washington, DC for graduate school. Her last day with US-AEP will be August 10.

US-AEP congratulates Keith Gilges, Deputy Director for US- AEP/Hong Kong. Keith has accepted a position as a Foreign Service Officer with the State Department, and his last day with US-AEP will be July 20. He begins his training in Washington, DC on September 10, and will be in town during the US-AEP annual meeting in October.

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