Switch-Asia News - UNEP/Wuppertal Institute Collaborating Centre on Sustainable Consumption and Production gGmbH

Bridging Asia and Europe with Sustainable Supply Chains

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 09:59:00 +0200

Sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) provides a market-based approach to improving sustainability across a wide range of producers that can have positive benefits that go beyond government policy and regulation, particularly in countries with less rigorous sustainability standards. SSCM involves development and enforcement by (typically) end product manufacturers of sustainability standards, such as Suppliers’ Codes of Conduct, to upstream suppliers (and their suppliers further up the chain). Rigorous application of these standards may include regular monitoring or auditing of suppliers by the end product manufacturer. SSCM may also serve to influence suppliers in a more indirect way, if these suppliers improve their production processes in anticipation of gaining new business from other customers demanding sustainable products. The objectives are:

To share cases from SWITCH-Asia Programme on sustainable supply chain management approaches
To present mechanisms identified by the SWITCH-Asia Network Facility for institutionalizing SSCM: How can SSCM be multiplied and spread?
To investigate collaboration opportunities and synergies with ERSCP participants

Plans for the Rio+ 20 Summit - SWITCH-Asia Events

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 10:02:00 +0200

A side event on "Working with policy makers for lasting impact - lessons learnt from the SWITCH-Asia Policy Support Component" is scheduled to be organised during the Rio+20 on 19 June 2012, 14:30 – 16:30 at the EU Pavilion. This event will focus on what kind of support is needed from the European Union (EU) and the United Nations to scale up sustainable consumption and production (SCP) policies and actions after Rio+20 as well as giving the European Commission's Directorate-General for Development and Cooperation insights and information to design high-quality SCP programmes that could support the transition to a green economy in other regions of the world for the period 2014-2020. The objectives of the side event are:

Presentation of the SWITCH-Asia Programme with a specific focus on the Policy Support Component. Discussions on the SCP policy support provided at regional (UNEP) and national levels (EU), highlighting challenges to be overcome and results achieved so far.
From a policy perspective the event will reflect on lessons that may be drawn from SWITCH Policy Support Component and on the "applicability" of the Programme in other developing regions.

Another side event side event highlights Partnering for Green Growth – Cases from the SWITCH-Asia Programme. The event is scheduled to be organised during the Rio+20 Summit on 17 June 2012, 17:00 – 19:00 at the EU Pavilion. The event will discuss how various types of partnerships supported by the SWITCH-Asia projects are contributing to ‘green growth’. Partnerships along product supply chains, engagement with policy-makers, financing institutions and NGOs for spreading sustainable consumption and production practices towards green growth will be explained through country specific examples. The objectives of the side event are:

To share cases from SWITCH-Asia Programme on partnerships for green growth: What has worked from the perspective of SWITCH-Asia Programme?
To brainstorm and gather implications for other regions beyond Asia: How could the lessons learned be transferred?

Access to Finance Workshop identified opportunities for future approaches

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 09:42:00 +0200

Experts agreed that the major constraints for greening SMEs is financial constraints and lack of information. To address the mis-match between financial needs and financial suuplies, investors,experts from banks, developing organisations and SWITCH-Asia project suggested varied approaches: To establish a successful programme on access to green finance for SMEs, KfW expert Barbara Schnell recommends to provide certified consultants providing advice to SMEs to make up for information deficit. Such a programme must have the backing of Government and budget funds financing incentives. She also recommends to establish a standard distribution mechanism and simple product structures with commercial bank assessing and taking the risks. In such a programme, all parties and market actors have their role in a successful implementation. Dato Leong Kin Mun from the SWITCH-Asia project Biomass_SP suggested that Governments could allocate a certain quota to the DFIs or commercial banks for green SMEs financing. He highlighted that bankers may not be keen to finance SMEs's enviromental projects because they deem the green business model as high risk businesses – compared to conventional loans such as mortgage, etc.. He urged for increase of technical capacities of bank officers evaluating such projects (bioenergy, biochemicals, biofertilisers, carbonised products, etc.) in order to materialise more green SMEs financing. He also recommended the establishment of a thematic bank in the form of DFI such as the Green Bank to leap-frog the current situation. Mrs. Corazon Conde, ADFIAP expert in teh SMART Cebu project, conlcuded that there is a need for a platform for networking among SMEs, FIs and other stakeholders to connect SCP-ready projects with financing. Furthermore, she sees the need to build capacity both for SMEs and FIs as an essential foundation .for sustainable finance. Mrs. Conde recommends showcasing successful green initiatives and environmental credit programmes of FIs as this will encourage others. For more information on all sessions of the workshop please click below Session I: Taking stock: Latest trends & financing solutions Session II: Scaling-up: Efforts and lessons-learned till now Session III: Taking action: Deriving solutions

High Level Seminar on Resource Efficiency and Decoupling approach in Bangkok

Mon, 09 Apr 2012 16:45:00 +0200

The Seminar, the first in a series for Asia and the Pacific, had set the following purposes:

Enhance the awareness and understanding about Resource Efficiency: importance and necessity, opportunities and productive harmony between Resource Efficiency and economic growth, new innovative ways including decoupling
Identify challenges and opportunities for Asian developing countries to promote Resource Efficiency and what UNEP in general and IRP in particular could be of assistance

The Seminar was opened by the UNEP Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific Dr. Young-Woo Park and the deputy head of the EU delegation in Thailand Minister-counsellor Mr. Attila Nyitrai. The seminar engaged policy makers, policy advisors and expert researchers who are familiar with challenges facing resource use, economic growth and environment sustainability and committed to finding a new pathway to overcome the dilemma including Resource Efficiency, decoupling economic growth from environmental degradation and other innovative technological and systemic changes. During the Seminar, IRP scientists and experts presented best science available and up-to-date information about the environmental impacts of production and consumption, decoupling economic growth from environmental deterioration, sustainable management of natural resources critical to economic growth and poverty reduction including water, land/soil, metal and biofuels.

The Seminar included a selective number of key-note presentations by resource experts and country representatives and many sessions of interactive discussions. A series of questions in each session raised by the presenters helped to steer the dialogue in a dynamic and productive manner. In the last session participants had the opportunity to engage on a “scenario” building exercise that evolved around two main issues:

ways in which public policy may help to achieve the desired vision for a better and more sustainable future in Asia; and
ways in which current policies and means of implementation are appropriate to guide necessary changes including a transition to greener economies

The final report of the seminar will be uploaded in about 3 weeks. For to view the presentation of the seminar please click here.

EU Ambassador visits leather project

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 14:53:00 +0200

The visit to tanneries showed Mr Hanna: the biggest achievement of the project is the high awareness created. Re-Tie has created a “revolution”, said Mr Abdul Hai, former General Secretary of the Bangladeshi Tanners Association ( BTA) during the visit in the tannery quarter Hazaribagh. Mr Abdul Hai, explained that the industry owners and technicians are now aware of many aspects regarding cleaner production, waste management, business match making, and technology adaptation. The visit of the team of the EU delegation to Bangladesh on March 15 followed a decision of the Bangladeshi High Court that made the way free for the tanneries to move to a new location. On March 4 the Bangladeshi High Court rejected a petition, filed by an Indian company I against the government's choice of bidder to build a effluent treatment plant. The way is now clear for a Chinese joint venture. The instalment of the plant is planned to be completed within the next 15 months at a cost of Tk 4.8 billon at the underconstruction Savar Leather Industrial Park. Minister Dilip Barua said at a press conference at his ministry of Industries on 13^th of March 2012 “We are hopeful the construction of the plant will be completed within the stipulated time”. The installation of the effluent treatment plant removes skepticism among the tanners. Mr Haji Belal Uddin, president of BFLLFEA, said that they were all willing to move to Savar. “But we could not move in the past, as there was no treatment plant. As soon as the government sets up the plant we all will move there”.

REWIN project kicks off in Beijing

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 11:34:00 +0200

In the REWIN project seven Chinese partner institutions and two European institutions link supply and demand of secondary raw materials in electronic production and recycling industry. This is done by developing an adequate recycling infrastructure for WEEE and secondary raw materials from production industry and by joint development and implementation of a waste tracking system combined with a material exchange platform. Representatives the Chinese Ministry of Environment Protection, EC delegation in China, the Austrian and the Dutch Embassy, project partners and representatives of e-sectors of China followed the invitation of the project team led by the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna. For more information on the project and its partners please click here.

4th Call: Frequently Asked Question - documentation now available

Sun, 26 Feb 2012 18:50:00 +0100

At the Info Session around 100 potential applicants asked questions around eligibility, dealines and postal addresses. Click to get the first part of the documentation . Do not miss page 9 - stating the correct address where to send the concept notes. Following questions received after the Call has been launched the Directorate-General for Development and Cooperation at the European Commission (EU) responsible for SWITCH-Asia would like to inform that an up-dated clarification document with Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) part 2 has been prepared. Click here to get the second part of the documentation.

Guidelines for 4th Call of the SWITCH-Asia Programme updated

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 11:17:00 +0100

The Guidelines for the fourth Call of proposals have been updated. The EC added a document called CORRIGENDUM.
For the corrigendium and all other documents please click the link below: https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/europeaid/online-services/index.cfm?do=publi.welcome&nbPubliList=15&orderby=upd&orderbyad=Desc&searchtype=RS&aofr=132302

2012 will put SCP in the spotlight

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 11:21:00 +0100

SWITCH-Asia promotes Sustainable Consumption and Production among consumers, small and medium-sized enterprises and Asian policy-makers in 15
Asian countries, from China and India to Bangladesh and the Maldives. In its June 2011 Communication on Rio+20, the Commission recommended stepping up efforts to extend the SWITCH programme to other regions. In the Mediterranean countries of the Southern Neighbourhood, the SWITCH-MED programme is being shaped along the lines of SWITCH-Asia and its policy component is planned to be launched in the first semester of 2012. SWITCH-MED aims at mainstreaming SCP and resource efficiency in the Mediterranean. It will also support a few pilot countries in planning, boosting green entrepreneurship and promoting awareness on SCP among civil society. In addition, starting in 2013, there will be some demonstration projects on SCP best practices, together with a networking component. Working towards a successful outcome at Rio+20 The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) to be held in Rio de Janeiro on 20 – 22 June 2012 will be an opportunity to secure renewed political commitment at all levels and to strengthen the coherence and the linkages between the environmental, economic and social dimensions of sustainable development. This can be achieved notably by promoting sustainable consumption and production, including through SWITCH.
On the same note, in an October 2011 Communication on "increasing the impact of EU development policy: an agenda for change" the Commission underlined the importance of promoting a green economy. Moreover, Commissioner Piebalgs is a member of High Level Group on Sustainable Energy for All, under the leadership of Ban Ki-moon. The objective of this group is to provide universal access to modern energy for all by 2030 and effectively eradicate energy-poverty. Valuing natural capital and investing in it, notably by supporting market opportunities for cleaner technologies, supporting the efficient and sustainable use of energy and natural resources and low-carbon development will generate growth, create jobs and help reduce poverty. With this in mind, preparations have started for SCP support outside Asia.

SWITCH-Asia - successfully promoting sustainable consumption and production in Asia

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:43:00 +0100

The statement followed a two-day seminar to highlight the successes of SWITCH-Asia, a grants programme funded through the EU Development Cooperation Instrument. SWITCH-Asia promotes Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) among consumers, small and medium-sized enterprises and Asian policy-makers in 15 Asian countries, from China and India to Bangladesh and the Maldives. Over two days, the conference presented success stories and demonstrated how similar projects could be set up elsewhere in the world. SWITCH-Asia was launched in 2007 with an overall budget of around €150 million for the period 2007-2013. In its June 2011 Communication on Rio+20, the Commission recommended stepping up efforts to extend the SWITCH programme to other regions. In the Mediterranean countries of the Southern Neighbourhood, the SWITCH-MED programme is being shaped along the lines of SWITCH-Asia and its policy component is planned to be launched in the first semester of 2012. SWITCH-MED aims at mainstreaming SCP and resource efficiency in the Mediterannean. It will also support a few pilot countries in planning, boosting green entrepreneurship and promoting awareness on SCP among civil society. In addition, starting in 2013, there will be some demonstration projects on SCP best practices, together with a networking component. A project on Greening Economies in the Eastern Neighbourhood (GREEN) is expected to be launched in the autumn of 2012. The project has two components: the main component aims at introducing or strengthening governance and financing tools for promoting SCP in selected policy sectors; the second component intends to promote the use of environmental impact assessment methodologies as tools for accompanying SCP policy implementation. Some pilot projects are expected to demonstrate the concrete applications of SCP in the partner countries. In sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America there are various activities addressing green economy and low-carbon development. This is illustrated for example by the "Maurice Ile Durable" initiative supported by the EU in Mauritius. This encourages consistency between economic reform and sustainable development focusing on limiting the impacts of economic growth, including tourism, on the environment. In Burkina Faso the EU is working with United Nations programmes to support the transition to a low-carbon economy. This partnership will deliver specific assessments and an analysis of sectors where the links between environmental protection and poverty reduction are strong, such as the cotton and mining sectors. It also involves awareness raising and preparation of a Green Economy Roadmap. In Latin America the EU is supporting projects on adaptation to climate change and low-carbon development strategies. The EUROCLIMA programme aims at enhancing the scientific and socio-economic knowledge of the scientific community and of policy-makers on the effects of climate change, promoting its integration into development strategies and policies of 18 Latin American countries. The EUROSOLAR pilot programme provides rural electrification systems using renewable energy (solar panels and wind generators) to six hundred rural communities in the eight poorest countries of Latin America, combining poverty alleviation and low-carbon development. Furthermore, the Latin American Investment Facility (LAIF) aims at encouraging low-carbon investments in particular by promoting clean technologies with tailor made packages combining grants and loans. The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) to be held in Rio de Janeiro on 20 – 22 June 2012 will be an opportunity to secure renewed political commitment at all levels and to strengthen the coherence and the linkages between the environmental, economic and social dimensions of sustainable development. This can be achieved notably by promoting sustainable consumption and production, including through SWITCH-Asia. On the same note, in an October 2011 Communication on "increasing the impact of EU development policy: an agenda for change" the Commission underlined the importance of promoting a green economy. Valuing natural capital and investing in it, notably by supporting market opportunities for cleaner technologies, supporting the efficient and sustainable use of energy and natural resources and low-carbon development will generate growth, create jobs and help reduce poverty. With this in mind, preparations have started for SCP support outside Asia. The SWITCH-Asia Programme has three strategic components: grants for projects, a network facility and a policy support component. The programme currently supports 47 projects in 15 Asian countries in areas such as greening supply chains, marketing eco-products, green public procurement, cleaner production, eco-labelling and products for the poor. The network facility organises exchange of project experience in order to increase the quality and impact. The policy support component aims to strengthen the formulation and implementation of sustainable consumption and production (SCP) policies in Asia at regional level primarily through capacity building in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme. In addition there is national level policy support for Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines. The latest call for proposals was launched in December 2011. The deadline for applications is 23 March 2012. This should open up financing for an additional15 projects. The projects applying are encouraged to seek solutions to the green finance gap in particular through capacity building and raising awareness amongst stakeholders.

Further INFO Session on 4th Call in Hanoi

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:13:00 +0100

Recently, the European Commission has launched the 4^th Call for innovative proposals that would contribute to promote sustainable consumption and production in Asian region. The SWITCH-Asia Programme has the objective to promote sustainable production (i.e. development of less polluting and more resource efficient products, processes and/or services) and sustainable consumption patterns and behaviour in Asia by mobilizing the private sector, i.e. SMEs, retailers, intermediary producer and consumer organisations, and financial sector organisations, along with relevant public sector authorities. The Info Session for Vietnam on the 4th Call for proposals will be organized as follows: Date:       21 February 2012 (Tuesday)
Time:      14:00pm – 16:30pm
Venue: Big meeting room, EU Delegation Office, 17^th Floor,    Pacific Office Building, 83B Ly Thuong Kiet Str., Hanoi. Language: in English with Vietnamese translation. For those interested to attend this information session, please contact and register with Ms. Nguyen My Le via e-mail at le.nguyen@eeas.europa.eu or tel. 3941 0099 ext. 8281 by Thursday, 16 February 2012. The full version of the Guidelines for grant applicants for teh SWITCH-Asia Programme can be found at website: http://www.switch-asia.eu/fileadmin/content/4th_Call/Guidelines_for_Grant_Applicants_4thCall.PDF

Seminar on the results of SWITCH-Asia Programme in Full Swing

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:43:00 +0100

The European Commission launched the SWITCH-Asia Programme with the aim to promote SCP among consumers, small and medium enterprises and to support Asian policy-makers shifting towards SCP practices. Moving to more sustainable production and consumption is closely related to moving towards a low carbon emission strategy and towards green growth. Mr. Dirk Meganck, the director for Asia, Central Asia, Middle East/Gulf and Pacific – Directorate-General for Development and Cooperation ath the European Commission (EU) welcomed the participants and gave an introduction to the seminar. He explained that the purpose of the Seminar is to discuss the achievements of the SWITCH-Asia Programme, and to extract lessons that may be applied to the design of future development and cooperation programmes in various regions.Therefore, he welcomed the broad range of government representatives from Africa, Asia, Central Asia, Latin America and Europe, including representatives from civil society and international organisations, business groups and colleagues from other EU Institutions have followed the EC's invitation The seminar gathered about 60 participants including representations from different Directorate-General within the EC, SCP experts from AFrica and Latin America, SWITCH-Asia projects, the SWITCH-Asia Network Facility, and experts SWITCH-Asia Policy Support project. In the welcome session, Mr. Timo Makela, the director for International Affairs, LIFE & Eco-Innovation – Directorate-General for the Environment put the programme into a wider perspective. He presented the European Union's vision on SCP, Green Economy and Rio +20. Most part of the day was covered by intensive discussion on the different components of the programme. Mr. Thomas Wiley, from the Directorate-General for Development and Cooperation tooks stocks what the progamme has achieved so far. Experts from UNEP and the EU Delegation to Malaysia gave in indepth description on the Policy Support of the programme at the regional level as well as on the national level. The second day of the seminar will introduce the other two components of the programme - the SWITCH-Asia Network Facility and the SWITCH-Asia Grant projects. It will open space for the discussion on the applicability of the programme to other regions of the world.

EU Delegation in Jakarta holds Info Session on 4th Call for Proposals

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:18:00 +0100

The Information Session will take place on Wednesday, 15 February 2012 from 13:00 pm to 16:00 pm at the EU Delegation office in Jakarta, located at: Intiland Tower, 16th Floor, Jl. Jend Sudirman 32, Jakarta 10220, Indonesia. The purpose of the information session is to inform potential apllicants about the purpose of the call and the procedure to follow. It does not constitute a guarantee that a contract will be awarded. Prior to the session, it is recommended that all participants familiarise themselves with the programme and the procedure. Pre-registration is mandatory. Considering the limited capacity of the venue, only 1 person per institution can register for the event. Confirmation of attendance should be made with Mrs Reni Yusnita at tel. +62 21 2554 6241 or e-mail to reni.yusnita(at)eeas.europa.eu latest by 08 February 2012. In case you cannot attend please click here to view the presentation from the Info Session held in Brussels.

Info Session on 4th Call in Thailand

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:06:00 +0100

The purpose of this meeting is to provide information about SWITCH Asia programme, guidelines of the current Call for Proposal including application procedures and eligibility of applicants. Provisional Programme: 14:00-14:30    Registration Ms Somporn Na Lampang
14:30-14:40    Welcome and Introduction Mrs Veronique LORENZO, Head of Operations Section
14:40-15:30     The SWITCH-Asia Call for Proposals, Mrs Sutthiya Chantawarangul, Programme Officer
15:30-16:00    Open Discussion, Q-A All
Please confirm your participation by 07 February 2012 by contacting Ms Sompom, tel. 02 3052748, fax 02 255 9110, or Sompom.NA-LAMPANG(at)eeaseuropa.eu. If you cannot attend but want more information please click here to view the presenations of the INFO Sessions in Brussels

Presentations from INFO Session on 4th Call ONLINE

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:29:00 +0100

Stakeholders as varied as NGOs, consultancies, chambers of commerce, industry association or Universities joined EC officials to discuss the SWITCH-Asia programme. Thomas Wiley, Head of Sector, EuropeAid Development and Cooperation, and Christian Tetzel, Programme Manager SWITCH-Asia, EuropeAid Development and Cooperation answered questions on the 4th Call for proposals. The 4th Call for Proposals will offer grants for the total amount of €31 000 000, with individual grants ranging from €500 000 to € 2 000 000.
The 4th Call for Proposals especially invites project proposals where business intermediaries (such as business associations, industry associations, and service providers) as well as SMEs' business partners (such as retailers or financial institutions) and policy-makers will play an active role in the proposed activities.
Eligible countries are: Afghanistan Bangladesh Bhutan Cambodia China DPR-Korea India Indonesia Laos Malaysia Maldives Mongolia Myanmar Nepal Pakistan Philippines Sri Lanka Thailand Vietnam.
Next to grant proposal the SWITCH-Asia programme consist of a Policy Support Component and a Network Facility. Team leader of the Network Facility, CSCP-expert Frans Verspeek informed participants on the functions of the Network Facility and he gave an overview of the current 30 projects that are already implementing SCP practices across Asia. Additionally, EU-Delegations in Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia conducted Info-Sessions through out February.

GPIoS partners with National Eco-labeling Programme Green Choice of the Philippines

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 09:37:00 +0100

GPIoS and PCEPSDI share a common advocacy for caring to the environment through creating awareness and compliance of Filipino entrepreneurs on local and national policies involving sustainable production and consumption. The experts from Green Philippines Islands of Sustainability project will work together with the National Eco-labeling Program-Green Choice Philippines in the development of environmental standards for products. The two organizations, with their network of companies will present and promote the “GPIoS shining showcases” to attract more pro-environmental actions and to engage in the National Eco-labeling Program “Green Choice” Philippines. Another milestone has been achieved towards the Sustainability of the GPIoS project on the policy level. This is a step in the collaborative work with private institutions, non-government organizations, with the push of government units towards a changed mindset.

Info-Session on 4th Call in Kuala Lumpur

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 11:15:00 +0100

The aim of SWITCH-Asia is to promote Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) in Asia. To achieve this objective, the Programme works simultaneously on the ground, with producers and consumers, and at the level of policy-making through supporting for formulation and implementation of SCP-related policies. It started in 2007 with a budget of €152 million for the period 2007-2013.

Details of the Information Session as follows:

Date: 15 February 2012 (Wednesday)
Time: 1430 - 1600
Venue: EU Delegation Office, 21st Floor, Menara Tan & Tan,
207 Jalan Tun Razak, 54000 Kuala Lumpur.

Those interested, please RSVP to Norfaizah.Ismail@eeas.europa.eu by Wednesday, 8 February 2012.
The call has been published on 21 December 2011 with deadline for submission of concept notes on 23 March 2012. The deadline for submission of full applications will be in June 2012.
•   Overall EU-contribution: €30 600 000
•   Co-financing: 80 % of the total estimated total accepted costs (90% for
    least developed countries) 20% of balance financed from the applicant's or
partners' own resources
•   Duration of the projects: 24 – 48 months
•   Grant amounts: min. €500 000 - max. € 2 000 000

The above information is a summary only. For full information and conditions please consult the Guidelines for Grant Applicants as they are the legally binding document.
In view of limited seating, participants shall be registered on a first come first served basis. The EU Delegation reserves the right to limit participation to just one representative per organisation.

Zero Carbon Resort Beneficiary wins ASEAN Green Hotel Recognition Award 2012

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 14:33:00 +0100

To win the award hotels and resorts much implement environmentally friendly practices as stipulated in the document that notions the ASEAN Green Hotel Standard. It includes the following criteria:

•   Environmental policy and activities for hotel operation
•   Use of green products
•   Collaboration with the communities and local organizations
•   Human resources development
•   Solid waste management
•   Energy efficiency
•   Water efficiency
•   Air quality management (indoor and outdoor)
•   Noise pollution control
•   Waste water treatment and management
•   Toxic and chemical substance disposal management Besides the Daluyon Beach and Mountain Resort on the island of Palawan 71 other resorts across South-East Asia were awarded.

Leather project extended by 9 months

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 10:57:00 +0100

The additional implementation period will be mainly used in two ways. On the one hand to further disseminate the achieved results on cleaner production in order to deepen the impact and on the other hand to support all stakeholders with regard to the upcoming relocation of the tanneries to the new Tannery Estate Dhaka in Savar. After many years, the move to Savar will take place. The Ministry of Industries (MoI) signed a contract with a company to build the Central Effluent Treatment Plant, an important pre-requisite for the relocation. The MoI further requested the support of Re-Tie project and it was agreed that MoI will organize a mandatory seminar for tanneries that are to be relocated to Savar. During the seminar recommended technologies with benefits and technical requirements will be presented by Re-Tie project staff. Tentatively it was agreed organising the seminar at end of the 1st or beginning of 2nd quarter in 2012, meaning after the actual implementation period. Since the Ministry will be the inviting entity and the technical input will be delivered by the project, the whole sector will participate and therefore gain from the knowhow transfer.

Info Session for 4th Call for Proposals

Sun, 18 Dec 2011 15:42:00 +0100

European Commission representatives will explain in detail the objectives of the SWITCH-Asia Programme and the application procedures for the 4th Call of Proposals. The 4th Call for Proposals will offer grants for the total amount of €30 600 000, with individual grants ranging from €500 000 to € 2 000 000. The Info Session is scheduled for: Thurday, 26 January 2012 (09h30 – 13h00). It takes the place at Albert Borschette, Room tbc, Rue Froissart 36, Brussels. The 4th Call for Proposals especialliy invites project proposals where business intermediaries (such as business associations, industry associations, service providers) as well as SMEs' business partners (such as retailers or financial institutions) and policy-makers will play an active role in the proposed activities. Eligibe countries are: Afghanistan Bangladesh Bhutan Cambodia China DPR-Korea India Indonesia Laos Malaysia Maldives Mongolia Myanmar Nepal Pakistan Philippines Sri Lanka Thailand Vietnam. The entrance is free but registration is required. Please confirm participation latest by 18 January 2012 under europeaid-switch-asia@ec.europa.eu