As part of US-AEP�s effort to establish the Environmental Center for Livestock Waste Management (ECLWM) with the National Pingtung University of Science and Technology (NPUST) in Taiwan, two NPUST officials met with U.S. universities and environmental firms, September 27 � October 8. The trip was supported by US-AEP�s Environmental Exchange Program (EEP). Dr. Shan-Da Liu, president of NPUST, and Dr. Liang Chou Hsia, director of the Innovative and Practical Training Center at NPUST, traveled to the U.S. to enhance long-term institutional partnerships between NPUST and U.S. land-grant universities participating in the center. In addition, they met with U.S. companies to explain how ECLWM could assist their marketing efforts in Asia.

Dr. Liu and Dr. Hsia visited the universities of Oregon State, Iowa State, Purdue, Illinois Institute of Technology, and North Carolina State. All five universities have been actively involved in establishing the center in Taiwan. They also visited U.S. companies that have donated equipment to construct ECLWM, including A.O. Smith Engineering Storage Projects of Dekalb, Illinois; Agri-Bio Systems of Elgin, Illinois; Oceco, Inc. of Tiffin, Ohio; Insta Pro Inc. of Des Moines, Iowa; and the Chicago Industrial Pump Company of Chicago, Illinois. Additionally, the two NPUST representatives met with senior US-AEP and U.S. Department of Agriculture officials in Washington, DC.

Results of the trip included plans to increase educational exchanges between NPUST and U.S. universities in the field of agricultural engineering and science. The U.S. and Taiwanese partners also discussed ECLWM�s upcoming Third International Symposium on Livestock Waste Management, scheduled to coincide with the grand opening of ECLWM on December 7-9, 1999. [EEP is administered by the Institute of International Education.]

The Water Environment Federation (WEF), a US-AEP partner, held its annual conference, WEFTEC 99, in New Orleans, Louisiana, October 10-13. US-AEP�s Overseas Program Fund (OPF) brought 105 Asian decision-makers from Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, and Thailand to attend the conference. In addition, delegations from Indonesia, Korea, the Philippines, and Vietnam participated through the Environmental Exchange Program (EEP). More than 190 one-on-one meetings were arranged for the Asian delegates with U.S. environmental firms, and more than 200 meetings took place on the exhibition floor between Asian delegates and U.S. firms. These meetings provided opportunities for U.S. firms to find Asian partners for sales or joint venture partnerships.

To facilitate these business opportunities, US-AEP�s Technology Representatives, environmental specialists located in 11 Asian countries and supported by the U.S. Department of Commerce�s Commercial Service, gave well-received presentations on their respective country�s environmental market on October 11. The presentations were attended by representatives of more than 50 U.S. firms, many of whom met with the Tech Reps afterwards to further discuss the opportunities in Asia.

US-AEP also provided a trade show booth at the exhibition, which helped facilitate meetings between U.S. firms and Asian buyers, and provided information about the program. Stu Keller of Hydrasep, an environmental technology firm in Arizona, found US-AEP�s presence at the exhibition invaluable. "Eighty percent of the people who stopped by my booth were international people, especially from Asia. I was overwhelmed because I was not prepared for this market or response. I was excited to find out about US-AEP�s programs that help the small companies get into the Asian market." Mr. Keller made good use of US-AEP�s resources: he signed up for one-on-one meetings, submitted a form for free trade leads, and met with some of US-AEP�s Tech Reps. [OPF is administered by the National Association of State Development Agencies; EEP is administered by the Institute of International Education.]

The American Consulting Engineers Council (ACEC), a US-AEP partner, cosponsored a two-day workshop on solid waste management in Cebu City, Philippines, September 1-2. Sixty participants from local governments, donor agencies, and the private sector attended the workshop. US-AEP Associate Director Jeremy Hagger spoke during the opening program, emphasizing the great value of sharing experiences and technology, and citing US-AEP�s continuing commitment to share its network and resources with Asian decision-makers and managers.

The participants identified common solid waste management concerns and formed action plans for local government units to begin their own solid waste management programs. The body also agreed on a common agenda for the National Conference on Solid Waste Management in November 1999, and elected the interim officers for the Solid Waste Association of the Philippines (SWAP). Among those elected was Mary Jane Ortega, mayor of San Fernando, as president of the association. Ms. Ortega has participated in the US-AEP program in the past, and was featured in US-AEP�s 1998 Year in Review.

Also sponsoring the workshop with ACEC and US-AEP were the Presidential Task Force on Waste Management/Environmental Management Bureau and the USAID-funded Associates in Rural Development/Governance and Local Democracy Project.

US-AEP�s Office of Technology Cooperation in Malaysia has a new telephone number: 60-3-268-5050.