UPDATE: November 3, 1997

Indonesian chemical industry embraces Responsible Care.

After several years of discussions, an important milestone was reached October 23 as the Indonesian chemical industry launched the "Responsible Care" (RC) initiative. The launch occurred as part of a seminar organized by the Komite Nasional-Responsible Care Indonesia (KN-RCI) of the Indonesian Chemical Industry Club (ICIC), with support from US-AEP's Clean Technology and Environmental Management program. Endorsements were made by senior government officials of the BAPEDAL, Ministry of Industry and Trade, Ministry of Manpower, and CEOs of various chemical companies. Approximately 20 Indonesian companies have now signed up to support RC, and KN-RCI hopes to apply for certification to the International Council of Chemical Industries soon. The good news about RC may further be spread through the ICIC's chairmanship of the ASEAN Chemical Industries Club, which commences this month.

During the seminar, more than 100 industry professionals discussed RC's value-added benefits and its relationship to ISO 14000, reflecting a growing industry awareness that RC is fundamental to chemical companies' continued operation. Keynote remarks were made by a spokesperson from OxyChem of Dallas, Texas, who was identified by US-AEP in collaboration with the U.S. Chemical Manufacturers Association.

CSG seeks proposals for next round of SEI grants.

The Council of State Governments (CSG) has issued a call for proposals to its 1998 State Environmental Initiative (SEI) grants program. Sponsored by US-AEP, the State Environmental Initiative provides funding in support of international, public-private partnerships that seek a long-term transfer of state environmental experience, technology, practices, goods and/or services to targeted Asian countries. Grants to states are available on a competitive basis, and although applications must be initiated by a state agency, corporations and NGOs are encouraged to partner with agencies in submitting proposals. The deadline for proposals is February 16, 1998. For more information about SEI and the grant process, contact Karen Marshall at CSG at 606-244-8234, e-mail to kmarshal@csg.org, or visit the US-AEP website at https://www.usaep.org.

Environmental infrastructure partnerships explored in India, Thailand.

Pursuing United States-Asia partnership opportunities in environmental infrastructure, Philip Costas, Asia Regional Director of the American Consulting Engineers Council (ACEC), recently traveled to India and Thailand to hold speaking engagements, meetings, and media briefings. In cities across India, a high level of interest in infrastructure partnerships with U.S. firms was expressed by the Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (Hyderabad), Gujarat Venture Finance Ltd. (Ahmedabad), Confederation of Indian Industries, and the Consulting Engineers Association of India. Partnership opportunities with these organizations will be further explored with the assistance of US-AEP Environmental Infrastructure Representative P.U. Asnani and Tech Rep Kevin Bricknell. The visit also produced local and regional TV reports, an international short-wave radio interview, and the publication of several newspaper articles. In Bangkok, Costas worked with US-AEP Environmental Infrastructure Representative Kitti Kumpeera and Tech Rep J.D. Murphy to advance partnerships among top Thai environmental engineering firms, local engineering associations, and their U.S./ACEC counterparts. To facilitate matchmaking, a technical conference on wastewater operations and management is being planned by US-AEP in conjunction with the Kenan Institute Asia. This work is part of ACEC's cooperative agreement with US-AEP to expand the participation of U.S. firms in environmental infrastructure projects in Asia.

Sri Lanka and Korea Tech Reps broker distributor/JV agreements.

US-AEP's field offices in Sri Lanka and Korea have played key roles in facilitating environmental business transactions between U.S. and Asian firms. US-AEP/Sri Lanka catalyzed three agent-distributor arrangements for water treatment equipment: Ecometrics, Inc. (Silverdale, Pennsylvania) and Swedish Trading Company Ltd. (Sri Lanka); Ecowater Systems, Inc. (St. Paul, Minnesota) and Waterman Engineering Pvt. Ltd. (Sri Lanka); a company in New Orleans, Louisiana, and Waterman Engineering Pvt. Ltd.

Through meetings arranged by US-AEP/Korea Tech Rep Chi-Sun Lee, a letter of intent to enter a joint venture was signed October 10 between Kee-Byung Kim of Taehung Corporation (Seoul, Korea) and Donald Kistnez of Bedminster Bioconversion Corporation (Marietta, Georgia). Bedminster was able to identify a market for its technology that exceeds $500 million over the next two years.

U.S companies conduct environment and energy workshops in India.

NITON of Bedford, Massachusetts, and Laser Re-Nu of Phoenix, Arizona, were awarded US-AEP Environmental Technology Fund grants to conduct a series of environmental and energy-related workshops, training seminars, and technology demonstrations in India. The U.S. firms are sponsored by Applied Environmental Technologies and represented by Global Environmental Aid Association. NITON and Laser Re-Nu are demonstrating their lead-in paint detection equipment and printer cartridge recycling technology, respectively. It is expected that business relationships developed through this grant will lead to future joint ventures and profitable partnerships with key companies. The project commenced in September 1997. US-AEP's Environmental Technology Fund is administered by the National Association of State Development Agencies.

Philippines PEZA Group visits U.S. industrial estates.

Through the Environmental Business Exchange program, four Filipino participants from the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) visited various U.S. industrial estates from July 6-18, 1997. The exchange enabled participants to compare experiences in operations, incentives, standards, and administration through one-on-one meetings and facility tours of the U.S. sites. Industrial estates toured were: Environmental Technologies and Management and Entrepreneurial Development Center (Houston, Texas); Brownsville Economic Development Council (Brownsville, Texas); Baltimore Development Corporation (Baltimore, Maryland); Indigo Development (Oakland, California); Alameda Naval Air Station (Alameda, California); and Bechtel (San Francisco, California). While on the exchange, the PEZA group was given a briefing on ISO 14000 and how it can be effectively implemented in the Philippines. The participants also received information on policies, programs, and projects that encourage investment adherence to environmental protection. One of the visit objectives--to establish links with private agencies involved in environmental and industrial estates management--was effectively realized, since US-AEP/Manila has strengthened its relationship with PEZA as a result of the exchange. The Environmental Business Exchange program is facilitated by the Institute of International Education.

 
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