Ambassador Nguyen Quoc Cuong met with Ex-Im Bank Chairman and President Fred Hochberg
On Jan 16th 2013, Ambassador Nguyen Quoc Cuong and his ASEAN counterparts held a meeting with with Ex-Im Bank's Chairman and President Fred Hochberg, Vice Presidents and other high-ranking officials. Special Envoy and Coordinator for International Energy AFfairs Carlos Pascual and representatives from DOS, DOE, USTDA and OPIC were also present at the meeting. The meeting focused on the need and opportunity to develop energy infrastructure of ASEAN countries and the US-Asia Pacific Comprehensive Partnership for a Sustainable Energy Future adopted by President Obama and ASSEAN leaders at the 2012 December Summit in Phnom Penh.
Ex-Im Bank Chairman and President Hochberg said the Parnership reinforced US commitment to develop a comprehensive partnership with ASEAN. Shortly after being announced, over 6 billion dollars have been commited for the next 5-year period, including Ex-Im Bank's low-interest 5-billion dollars for export support, OPIC's 1-billion loan for energy projects, 1-million from USTDA and DOS's Capacity Development Fund for techinical support and project development. OPIC representative reiterated OPIC's priority for technology transfer in renewable energy as the US industry has made significant progress, particularly in wind, solar and thermal power production.
Ambassador Nguyen Quoc Cuong and ASEAN ambassadors highlighted the Parnership as a practiclal step to enhance US-ASSEAN cooperation in response to enormous energy production and consumption in Vietnam and ASEAN in coming years. Ambassador Cuong commented that for the Parnterhisp to suceed, the US should develop specific measures to address the three issues of preferential interest, equipment cost and advanced technology.
Ex-Im Bank Board expressed hope that as a priority country in ASEAN, there will be more joint US-Vietnam projects in 2013.
