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Experts gather for environmental summit By Craig DeSilva For Saipan Tribune
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Posted on May 11 2000
HONOLULU, Hawaii (PIDP/CPIS) — An environmental symposium aimed at showcasing Hawaii’s expertise in environmental technology to developing Pacific Island nations is under way this week in Waikiki.
Government officials and planners from six Pacific Island nations and territories are attending the Mayor’s Pacific Islands Environmental Symposium. Among the participants are experts from Palau, Saipan, Kosrae, Majuro, and American Samoa.
“We need to create Honolulu as a center for knowledge, expertise and technologies and at the same time work with our fellow islanders in the Pacific area to make sure that they also have the tools and expertise to develop sustainable communities,” said Honolulu Mayor Jeremy Harris, who’s hosting the event.
“Part of the purpose of this program is to provide Pacific Island nations with contacts within our own engineering and urban design and technical community so they know where to turn to get information on water recycling or waste management or on solid waste systems,” Harris said.
Attendees will hear presentations from Hawaii planners and engineers about some of the projects performed in the state and in the Pacific region.
Harris said the conference will allow engineers and other firms in Honolulu to network with Pacific Island nations to create business opportunities abroad.
“It’s our responsibility to share the best practices we developed here,” Harris said. “It’s also an opportunity to create business for our local technical scientific and engineering community so they can provide knowledge and the expertise and technical services to the Pacific Islands as they deal with the same problems we’re dealing with here.”
This week’s conference is a prelude to the Asia Pacific Environmental Summit, which will be held in May 2001 in Honolulu.
Hawaii Public Radio’s Kayla Rosenfeld contributed to this report.
