2004 Membership Dues

Invoices for 2004 membership dues have been sent. As you may be aware, our dues dollars are very important as they allow us to leverage additional resources to support our hydropower trade, development and finance work. With the growth of our program the need for these precious resources has also grown. Your assistance in helping us expedite payment is greatly appreciated.

USAID-US Hydropower Emergency Response Program

The USAID Office of Economic Growth Agriculture and Trade has been restructuring over the last several weeks. As part of this effort, US Hydropower has been discussing a role as a prime partner in water and energy programs. The proposed US Hydropower Emergency Response Program will undertake day to day activities to which help implement and develop infrastructure in key markets. The program will also focus on building an emergency response task force capability which can respond to natural disasters or rebuilding needs. This represents an opportunity to expand US Hydropower programs with USAID missions around the world. We will keep you informed as these discussions continue.

US Hydropower Teams with Life Insurers on Investment Initiative

US Hydropower will be working in partnership with the American Council of Life Insurers in key markets such as India, Mexico, and Brazil to address tax structures which will allow life insurers to make long term investments in hydropower projects. US Hydropower is planning to cosponsor a roundtable discussion on this topic in India this summer.

USTDA Meetings

US Hydropower staff and members working to identify priority rehabilitation and modernization projects in India met with USTDA December 17^th, to discuss a US Hydropower trade and investment strategy for India. A second set of discussions will be scheduled in January. Meetings on a Mexico strategy will be scheduled in late March.

US Hydropower Proposes Activities for US Department of Energy Partnership

US Hydropower met with US DOE December 22^nd, and submitted several proposed areas of partnership collaboration ,including bilateral relationships with key foreign agencies, technology transfer, and developing creative bilateral finance mechanisms for projects. These activities are expected to be implemented into USDOE’s 2003-2004 programs.

Register Now! Global Trade & Technology Network

For the past several months, US Hydropower has been promoting the benefits of USAID’s Global Trade & Technology Network. US Hydropower has become a GTN Network partner, and as part of this new relationship we want to be sure that our companies are taking full advantage of the promotional opportunities the GTN Network offers your company.

While some of you may have already registered your company, we want to be sure that all active companies register both their companies and individual projects in the network so that your companies can receive leads on available financing and other goods and services your projects will need. The Global Trade & Technology Network partners business leads around the globe and there is no charge for registration. All you need to register is basic company contact information and a description of your company that you can copy and paste from your promotional materials or company brochure. Please click here to register with the GTN Network www.usgtn.net

US Hydropower also maintains a website of information on US Hydropower activities and initiatives including a weblink to the GTN website. The US Hydropower website can be found at www.us-hydropower.org The site is available in English, Spanish, and Hindi.

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Your comments or requests for more information are welcome. Please contact US Hydropower’s Director of Trade Promotion, Debby Stone 202.383.2536 or by Email: debbys@us-hydropower.org

Debby Stone

US Hydropower

Council for International Development

1500 K Street NW #330

Washington, DC 20005

tel 202.383.2536

fax 202.408.5406