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USAID EcoLinks Environmental Partnership Program Leads Three Environmental Conferences in Europe and Eurasia Countries during September 2005
The EcoLinks Environmental Partnership Program recently completed a ten-day series of conferences in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Commerce, which strengthened technology, investment and environmental business cooperation between the U.S. private sector and counterparts in Europe and Eurasia in the energy, water and mining sectors. The events were organized by EcoLinks and local sponsors in Almaty, Kazakhstan (September 21–23, 2005) Sofia, Bulgaria (September 26 , 2005) and Bucharest, Romania (September 28-30, 2005):
EcoLinks Regional Conference on Renewable Energy Market Development in Central Asia, Almaty, Kazakhstan
September 19-20, 2005
Event Report - (Adobe Acrobat PDF, 166kb)
This two day conference was co-sponsored by Chevron and UNDP. It brought together more than 70 key regional players in the energy and development fields to promote increased regional cooperation to catalyze the development of markets for renewable energy in Central Asia. The conference discussed policy options and resource needs with policy and energy experts from national governments, neighboring countries and international organizations, characterized underlying environmental, social and economic problems, local renewable energy resources and technical expertise by-country. The conference also proposed options for the better coordination, prioritization and funding of project activities on a regional basis-in furtherance of existing cooperative activities initiated by the Working Group on Renewable Energy in Central Asia, convened in October 2004.
At the Almaty Conference government representatives from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, regional energy experts, private firms and international development organizations endorsed the founding of a regional sustainable energy organization for the Central Asia Republics (CAR). This new organization will be a regional “alliance” (i.e., a multi- national association) of institutions, government agencies, private sector enterprises, NGOs, financial institution representatives and research institutes.
EcoLinks Water Sector Opportunities Water Conference in Sofia, Bulgaria
September 26, 2005
Event Report - (Adobe Acrobat PDF, 45kb)
This USAID/EcoLinks funded conference in Sofia brought together leading EU and Bulgarian infrastructure agencies, municipalities and water associations with eight U.S. private sector firms and to explore opportunities for collaboration. Kicked off by an opening address by the Deputy Minister of Regional Development and the Deputy Minister of Environment and Water, the event provided an overview of current water infrastructure priorities in Bulgaria which are linked to meeting EU Accession requirements and the key EU and local transitional fund being used to facilitate project to meet these objectives. Bulgarian private sector water companies and water associations discussed the challenges and opportunities in the Bulgaria water sector. In addition, financial mechanisms offering financing for U.S. exporters such as Ex-Im bank and U.S. Trade and Development Agency for U.S. exports were presented. The U.S. organizations presenting their expertise in the water sector were GE Water Systems, Quest Environmental, Ceratox, the Washington Group, Hach Lange, Emerging Markets Group, Earth Tech, Fitch Rating and Delaware Technical and Community College.
USAID EcoLinks’ 2nd Environmental Conference on Water and Mining in Southeast Europe - Bucharest and Braila, Romania September 28–30, 2005
Event Report - (Adobe Acrobat PDF, 291kb)
This three day conference at the University of Bucharest presented water and mining infrastructure policies and current projects amongst approximately 200 attendees representing regional government agencies, the university, municipal officials, and associations, local firms, U.S. government officials, representatives from the World Bank and other international financial institutions, private investment and banking organizations, and a large U.S. delegation consisting of twenty-one specialized companies. It was conducted in cooperation with the Romanian Water Association and co-sponsored by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the Romanian Ministry of Industry and Commerce –Mining Division. The conference served results-oriented venue with the goal of pushing forward environmental cooperation between Romanian agencies and businesses working in the water and mining sectors and the U.S. private sectors, by fostering regional networking for cooperation and coordination, making the environmental infrastructure funding process more effective, transparent, and efficient. With the conference’s occasion, it was announced that the third edition of International Water Quality Day had been launched in Romania which promotes partnerships with educational institutions for monitoring the quality of water in different areas. Mark Taplin, the Charge d’Affaires of the Amercian Embassy in Bucharest, the Romanian Minister of Economy and Commerce and the Romanian Minister of Environment and Water Management gave the welcoming remarks at the initial conference session.
Plenary sessions introduced EU policies and the related priorities of Bulgarian agencies in the water and mining sectors. USAID E&E bureau’s Mohammed Latif introduced USAID programs in the Danube region and Best Practices in mine tailings management during the mine waste session. The conference concluded in the City of Braila an additional seminar was held with Braila’s municipal representatives, major water companies from Eastern Romania and a substantial delegation of high ranking officials from the neighboring Republic of Moldova which included policymakers, environmental officials and business executives. The formal seminar was followed by an informal river tour of the Danube river ecological zone and industrial sites courtesy of the Mayor of Braila.
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Front row - left to right: Cindy Biggs, US Commercial Service, Agnes Pawelkoski, TCGI, Gianina Moncea, USAID/Romania
Back row - left to right: Maria Nitoiu, US Commercial Service, Mark Taplin, Charge d’Affaire, US Embassy, Jerry Gold, USAID/Washington, John McGill, TCGI, Vasile Ciomos, President ARA |
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