San Antonio, Texas, Oct. 15, 2002 -- Robert B. Holland, III, U.S. Alternate Executive Director of the World Bank, gave the keynote speech at the 5th Annual Seminar on Environmental Business Opportunities Tuesday at the Adam's Mark Hotel in San Antonio.
Officials from several multilateral development banks gathered at the seminar to instruct contractors, suppliers and consultants how to win contract bids with the multibillion dollar environmental project industry.
More than 100 seminar participants from the United States, Mexico, and Canada met with representatives from the North American Development Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the World Bank, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency, and the Overseas Private Investment Corporation.
The seminar represented an important opportunity to meet with several multilateral banks and agencies in one session to explore opportunities for business in Mexico, Latin America and Asia.
"There are extraordinary opportunities for United States companies to participate in projects and do business with the multilateral development banks," said Holland. "Private sector economic growth and development is best facilitated in partnership between the U.S. and foreign firms. The development of emerging economies is of critical importance to both those economies and the U.S. economy."
In addition to providing an overview of the types of projects the multilateral development banks finance and how they partner with businesses, the participating institutions consulted one-on-one with seminar attendees on current contracting opportunities.
"We believe that the U.S. Department of Commerce can be a great conduit to help San Antonio's firms, Texas firms and U.S. firms, in general, do business while doing good in developing the world," added Eric S. Henderson, World Bank Deputy Commerce Liaison.
The seminar was hosted in conjunction with the Free Trade Alliance San Antonio.
