The United States-Asia Environmental Partnership (US-AEP) is organizing a trade mission to Sri Lanka and the Philippines for US providers of environmental technologies to meet with potential business partners in Asia. Representatives of these US companies will also meet with government agencies and local authorities responsible for establishing and enforcing environmental regulations, a official news release said.

"In coordination with the Technology Initiative for the Private Sector (TIPS) program in Sri Lanka, the American Chamber of Commerce (AnCham) and the American Embassy, US-AEP's Office of Technology Coorperation in Sri Lanka arranged this Trade Mission to assist Sri Lanka address its environmental issues by mobilizing US environmental experience, technology and services," it said.

US-AEP activities are focused on the objective of promoting an Asian "clean revolution" - the extensive continuing development and adoption of ever less-polluting and more resource-efficient products, process and services in the Asian region.

"The forthcoming event seeks to generate business linkages which will contribute to the economic development and help meet the environmental challenges facing Sri Lanka. With growing concern from the local community for the environment and degradation of natural resources as a result of urbanization and rapid industrialization, US-AEP believes that this Trade Mission is well timed to assist Sri Lanka's economic growth," it said.

"For the local business community this is an ideal opportunity to meet with representatives of US companies with a view to partnering for either an agency agreement, distributorship, joint venture or direct purchasing opportunity within the environmental sector. Arrangements are being made to have several types of US environmental technology on display.

"Having studied Sri Lanka's current environmental conditions and concerns, the organizers have selected three priority technology sectors for participation, namely:

* Water
Wastewater treatment, groundwater pollution, large scale drinking water treatment projects

*Recycling
Paper, rubber, plastics and wood waste (sawdust)

* Solid Waste
Waste minimization, solid waste management

"US-AEP will be arranging one-on-one meetings between US companies and interested Sri Lanka companies from October 21-23 at the Colombo Hilton. Site visits to industrial estates and to the of industrialists who are keen on addressing and solving environmental issues are also planned on October 24, the final day of the Trade Mission.

"US-AEP and the coordinating organizations are working towards making this Trade Mission a success and look forward to the active participation of the local business community and government agencies working towards integrating environment into Sri Lanka's economic development program," the release said.

Interested parties should contact the US-AEP office by September 30 to arrange for one-on-one meetings with US company representatives, it said.