May 17, 2010, Hanoi, Vietnam. U.S. Ambassador Michael W. Michalak will open an important environment and climate change business conference in Hanoi, Vietnam at the Melia Hotel on May 25. The forum series entitled, "Technology Solutions for Vietnam's Sustainable Economic Development Goals," will be the first of two environment and climate change forums, the first in Hanoi, May 25 and the second in Ho Chi Minh City, May 27. The World Bank estimates that Vietnam needs $2.5 billion per year to deal with environmental pollution because of its rapid industrialization. "With over 3,400 kilometers of coastline, Vietnam is also one of the countries most vulnerable to seas level rise," said Vance Hum," President and CEO of I.M. Systems Group, a top contracting firm to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

 Mr. Hum is joining the Maryland-Asia Environmental Partnership (MD-AEP)-led trade delegation to Vietnam and will be a key speaker at the forums. The delegation includes executives from Washington Laboratories; Insight Engineering; AmericanTCB; I.M. Systems Group; Columbia Analytical Services; Whiteford, Taylor & Preston LLP; Galileo Investment Group; Bluewing Environmental Technologies; WECK Laboratories; the University of Maryland Center for Integrative Environmental Research; and the University of Maryland College of Agriculture and Natural Resources

 The forums are being co-organized with MD-AEP and Washington Laboratories and the Vietnamese government through the Vietnam Administration for Seas and Islands from the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment and the Directorate for Standards and Quality from the Ministry of Science and Technology and also in collaboration with the Vietnamese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI).

Prior to leaving for Vietnam Mr. Hum and the trade mission delegates were briefed at a send-off reception by the Vietnamese Embassy's Deputy Chief of Mission Nguyen Tien Minh in Washington. "Deputy Chief of Mission Minh stressed the importance of addressing environmental issues in Vietnam and sees very good timing for mutual cooperation between the U.S. and Vietnam," said Mr. Hum.

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO REGISTER FOR THE MAY 25 HANOI AND MAY 27 HCMC FORUMS, CLICK HERE  http://vietnamenvironmentalforum.com/

Contact Info: http://vietnamenvironmentalforum.com/

Website : Maryland-Asia Environmental Partnership