TDA Signs Two Grants And A Memorandum Of Understanding In China

Mr. Geoffrey Jackson, TDA’s Regional Director for Asia signed the grants, totaling over $600,000. Mr. Shi Miaomiao, Deputy Director General of the WTO Department of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation; Mr. Luo Bin, Deputy Director General of the National Bureau to Combat Desertification of the State Forestry Administration; and Mr. Feng Huiming, Director of the Training Center of the State Development Planning Commission signed the agreements on behalf of their respective agencies. Dr. Thomas L. Boam, Acting Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy, was present as a witness at the signing ceremony, along with Mr. Denny Barnes, U.S. Deputy Senior Commercial Officer.

The first feasibility study grant, awarded to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation, provides $417,000 to establish an E-Learning program in China focused on the World Trade Organization (WTO). The project will use E-learning technology combined with traditional teaching methods to facilitate WTO learning via the Internet, enabling government officials at various levels, entrepreneurs and the general public to have a comprehensive understanding of the WTO and its legal instruments.

The second grant will provide $244,200 to partially fund a feasibility study to examine desertification prevention techniques in Northern and Central China. Working with the Grantee, the National Bureau to Combat Desertification, a unit of the State Forestry Administration, the U.S. contractor selected to perform the study will investigate the use of irrigation grazing practices for controlling sandstorm and desertification in areas surrounding Beijing.

TDA also signed an MOU today with the Chinese State Development Planning Commission stating TDA’s intent to provide funding to establish a Natural Gas Training Institute in Beijing that will promote the use and development of natural gas in China. A grant agreement awarding these funds will be signed later this month with the Gas Technology Institute of Des Plaines, Illinois, who, along with the State Development Planning Commission, will be responsible for the operations and development of the Training Institute.

The U.S. Trade and Development Agency promotes American private sector participation in developing and middle-income countries, with special emphasis on economic sectors that represent significant U.S. export potential. By funding various forms of technical assistance, training grants, feasibility studies, orientation visits, and business workshops, TDA helps American businesses compete for infrastructure projects in emerging markets. In addition, the agency promotes capacity building initiatives and supports U.S. government trade, economic policy and development objectives around the world.