USTDA Promotes ASEAN Connectivity Through Smart Grid Development
November 13, 2012
(USTDA)
Connecting ASEAN Leaders in Power Sector with U.S. Smart Grid Companies
HANOI, VIETNAM – Today, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) kicked off
the U.S.-ASEAN Smart Grid Workshop in Hanoi, Vietnam, the second event of the
U.S.-ASEAN Connectivity Cooperation Initiative. The Workshop is bringing
together approximately 100 officials from private industry as well as power
utilities and regulatory agencies from throughout the ASEAN region. The event is
providing an opportunity for the participants to discuss lessons learned and
international best practices, as well as interact with expert speakers from the
U.S. power transmission and distribution sector.
Through this Workshop, USTDA aims to assist in the standardization of smart grid
and transmission networks in the region, which in turn will aid in the
implementation of a wide range of technological tools for improving energy
efficiency. USTDA Director Leocadia I. Zak, noted that, "we see enormous
benefits of cooperation with international partners in finding and utilizing
economical and efficient tools to address the challenges associated with power
distribution, transmission, and management."
USTDA has a long history of supporting the power transmission and distribution
projects in the region which have resulted in the sale of U.S. goods and
services. Recent program acitivities have supported: the Provincial Electricity
Authority and the Metropolitan Electricity Authority of Thailand; the Cagayan
Electric Power and Light Company, Inc. and Manila Electric Company of the
Philippines; PT PLN of Indonesia; and Electricity Vietnam and the National Power
Transmission Corporation of Vietnam (NPT). The two day Workshop will be followed
by a reverse trade mission to the United States, where delegates will have the
ability to visit organizations that are implementing smart grid programs,
manufacturing related components, and offering consulting, design, and
engineering services. The visit will allow the delegates to build upon the
concepts discussed during the Workshop, by witnessing practical applications of
smart grid technologies.
During the Workshop, USTDA Director Leocadia Zak announced USTDA's approval of a
technical assistance grant to develop a new information technology (IT) and
smart grid roadmap for NPT. The program will link a team of U.S.-based experts
from Tangible International of Virginia with NPT to expand and modernize
Vietnam's electrical grid. In addition to helping NPT develop the IT
architecture for its smart grid implementation, the Tangible International team
will assist NPT design a telecommunications system that will enable the power
company to identify and react to time-senstive transmission situations on its
large electric grid.
USTDA launched the U.S.-ASEAN Connectivity Cooperation Initiative in conjunction
with the ASEAN-U.S. Leaders Meeting held in Indonesia in November 2011.
Leveraging U.S. private sector resources and expertise, USTDA will work with
U.S. companies and ASEAN partners to support activities such as reverse trade
missions, feasibility studies, technical assistance and workshops that foster
effective new partnerships between private sector and government entities to
increase connectivity and investment in the energy, transportation, and
information and communications technology (ICT) sectors. The Connectivity
Initiative is designed to support ASEAN's goal of fostering greater connectivity
to achieve an economically integrated ASEAN Community by 2015.
Welcome to the Exporting Source
Your one-stop resource for finding help to export to new customers, to learn about government export programs, to join export-promoting trade missions, to sign up for trade conferences and training, and to link to other exporting services. Whether you're an old hand at exporting or just getting started, the Exporting Source provides a place to locate foreign customers, export financing and foreign investment assistance.