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Exchange
begets plans to improve energy management in Hong Kong.
A US-AEP Environmental Exchange Program activity on energy management,
conducted for two representatives of the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC),
has resulted in specific plans to introduce energy performance contracting
in Hong Kong. HKPC�s efforts will facilitate cooperation between energy
service companies and builders, helping to ensure that new buildings are
energy-efficient. Follow-up reports indicate that the council will "organize
a series of briefings and seminars for CEOs and relevant personnel in the
field of energy management." The first seminar is tentatively scheduled for
January 1999. HKPC also plans to build strategic alliances with local power
companies to sell energy performance contracts and to increase government
awareness of this new energy-efficiency strategy. Council members Mr. Cham
Leung "Raymond" Fong and Mr. Kwok Chi Lee were the participants in the July
28-August 24 training program, during which they worked with Energy Masters
Corporation of Overland Park, Kansas. (Note: US-AEP�s Environmental Exchange
Program is managed by the Institute of International Education.)
Grant helps
Washington firm sell marine monitoring technology.
Over the past two years, Pentec Environmental, Inc., of Edmonds,
Washington, has used US-AEP�s Environmental Technology Fund to market its
Sea-All� underwater mapping and environmental assessment technologies in
Asia. Pentec�s efforts have paid off in the Federated States of Micronesia,
where the company has won contracts worth approximately $200,000 and is now
bidding on a $2.5 million contract to provide environmental management and
marine monitoring services. In Indonesia and the Philippines, where Pentec
has worked closely with US-AEP�s Offices of Technology Cooperation, a number
of lucrative projects are pending. (Note: US-AEP�s Environmental Technology
Fund is managed by the National Association of State Development Agencies.)
Proposals
requested for US-AEP's 1999 State Environmental Initiative.
The Council of State Governments, administrator of US-AEP�s State
Environmental Initiative (SEI), has announced its 1999 Call for Proposals to
the SEI grants program. The SEI provides funding to states, on a competitive
basis, in support of international, public-private partnerships that promote
the long-term transfer of state environmental experience, technologies, and
services to targeted Asian countries. CSG expects to award ten state grants,
ranging from $50,000 to $150,000, for the 1999 program. The grants require a
2:1 or 1:1 dollar and/or in-kind match from the grant recipient, depending
on the development status of the Asian country proposed as a partner.
Applications for SEI funding must be initiated by a bonafide agency of the
state, although corporations and nongovernmental organizations are
encouraged to partner with state agencies. The application deadline is
February 12, 1999. If you have questions, please contact CSG�s Karen
Marshall via telephone (606-244-8234) or e-mail (kmarshal@csg.org). See
CSG�s website for a copy of the Call for Proposals: www.csg.org.
US-AEP
activity contributes to Thai environmental ratings program.
Through US-AEP�s Environmental Exchange Program, Mr. Sopon Tatichotiphan
of Thailand�s Ministry of Science, Technology, and the Environment (MOSTE)
attended a World Bank-sponsored seminar, "Public-Private Collaboration for
Environmental Management," in Washington, D.C., October 26-28. Focusing on
designing environmental information disclosure programs and managing
environmental liability, the event attracted international participants from
government and industry. Mr. Sopon, who holds an influential position as
director of the Pollution Inspection Division in MOSTE's Pollution Control
Department, is developing an environmental ratings program for industrial
estates. He plans to build lessons learned at the seminar into his program,
through which he will increase his department's regulatory enforcement and
monitoring ability--and, ultimately, improve Thailand�s industrial
environmental performance. (Note: US-AEP�s Environmental Exchange Program is
implemented by the Institute of International Education.)
$3M
contract in Brunei among recently confirmed tech transfer successes.
US-AEP�s Operations unit has confirmed that the assistance of US-AEP�s
Office of Technology Cooperation in Singapore led to a $3 million contract
for Erickson Air Crane Co. of Central Point, Oregon. The U.S. company,
responding to the severe Southeast Asian forest fires and resulting haze in
early 1998, obtained counseling and contact information from
US-AEP/Singapore. Through these efforts, Erickson reached an agreement with
the Environmental Unit of the Ministry of Development, Brunei, to lease
Erickson helicopters for six weeks in order to combat the fires.
In another recent technology transfer success, Waterman Engineering of
Sri Lanka signed a $49,300 agent-distributor agreement with Cromaglass
Corporation of Williamsport, Pennsylvania, for sewage treatment technology.
The U.S. and Sri Lankan companies first made contact at the 1997 annual
conference of the Water Environment Federation (WEF), a US-AEP partner. A
one-on-one business development meeting made possible by US-AEP�s Overseas
Program Fund--managed by the National Association of State Development
Agencies--enabled the companies to connect at the conference.
New faces
at US-AEP.
Welcome to US-AEP�s new Country Director in India, Therese Leasburg, who
will oversee the activities of US-AEP�s four Indian Offices of Technology
Cooperation. In more than 20 years of international management experience,
Therese has held positions in the United States, Pakistan, and the former
Soviet Union. In Moscow, she was a was a housing specialist for USAID and
senior manager at Price Waterhouse, where she developed a consulting
practice and trained management consultants. In Islamabad, Therese was
general manager for the American Embassy Commissary and business manager of
the American Club. Outside of her position with US-AEP in New Delhi, Therese
engages in volunteer work with Very Special Arts India, an organization that
aids artists with disabilities.
Greetings also to Alexander Michael G. Palma, the new Deputy Technology
Representative for US-AEP�s Office of Technology Cooperation in the
Philippines. Mike graduated from the University of the Philippines with a
Bachelor�s degree in Economics and obtained his Master�s degree in Policy
Studies at Saitama University in Japan. Among other research and policy
analysis experiences, Mike conducted a survey of the state of toxic and
hazardous waste in the Philippines. His trade and investment expertise was
gained through seven years with the Phillippines Board of Investments.
Mike�s varied background in trade promotion, industry planning, and
development work will be valuable in his new post. |
