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[ BUSINESS PRACTICES ] [ RESOURCES ]
Environmental awareness in the Middle East is nascent. Most of
the countries and entities described in this pamphlet have had Environment
Ministries for less than a decade; several still have not designated a
specific ministry to address environmental issues. Environmental
law lags behind awareness and environmental practice and enforcement lag
behind the law. However, everywhere these issues are gradually being
accorded greater importance and are receiving more resources, often from
international donors or lending institutions. The current market
for U.S. environmental products and services is small, but the growth potential
in this sector presents a substantial opportunity for those firms interested
in
This pamphlet covers North Africa and much of the Levant, including Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Syria, Tunisia, and the West Bank and Gaza. Libya is not included because United Nations sanctions and U.S. law prohibit U.S. access to its marketplace. Algeria has been temporarily omitted due to the dangerous security situation in that country. It, too, faces major environmental problems. U.S. firms interested in the Algerian market should check with the U.S. Embassy in Algiers before committing themselves to any undertaking. REGIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS Resources Few governments in the region currently factor environmental cost into their economic decision-making. Largely for this reason, while most governments have pollution control laws, few are enforcing them effectively. Until this changes, the actual market will remain much smaller than the potential market. Products that show a clear economic benefit, such as conservation technologies, should sell well. Other environmental projects of all kinds are often funded by outside donors; these also represent a substantial opportunity. The World Bank, in addition to funding specific projects in environmental remediation, requires detailed environmental impact assessments before any loan can be approved or project funded. The U.S. Agency for International Development has substantial projects in the environmental sector in Egypt and Morocco. Elsewhere, USAID Missions are often well-informed about activities in the environmental sector, even where this is not a primary focus of their own. Only in the water sector has imminent scarcity focused the governments, with and without donor assistance, on the importance of the problem. Water Water quantity and quality problems represent the most serious environmental
issue for all of the governments in North Africa and the Levant.
Some, such as Jordan, are in serious water deficit already; others, like
Morocco, forecast their deficit in the first or second decade of the 21st
Century. In addition to constructing storage dams, most regional
players are examining water savings by conservation, improved management,
treatment and re-use of wastewater, and utilization of marginal quality
water through treatment. Systems for sewage collection are generally
inadequate, and treatment plants, where they exist, are often outdated
and operating at far beyond their design capacities. Numerous projects
are planned or underway to address these issues, of every scale and at
various stages of design and construction. Many of these projects
are being funded, at least in part, by multilateral lending institutions
or by bilateral assistance. Some, like Egypt’s massive plan to move
Nile River water into the desert at Toshka, are being largely funded by
the government itself and by private funds. U.S. firms providing
technology or services in these fields have a strong potential market in
the Middle
Waste Disposal Most urban areas have some form of collection; few rural areas do. Disposal, even where collection is adequate, tends to be haphazard, resulting in growing mountains of solid waste. This waste often contains a toxic component as separation is inadequate and few facilities exist for handling and treating hazardous or medical wastes. This problem is receiving growing recognition in the region. Pollution Clean technologies have substantial opportunities in new industries,
where government enforcement of pollution controls may be more effective.
Existing industries provide markets for “end-of-pipe” solutions designed
to meet emissions regulations, although in most cases enforcement so far
has been lax. A more serious effort is likely to be forthcoming in
Desertification Erosion and desert encroachment are serious concerns in most of the
region. Soil damage caused by saline intrusion in coastal areas,
or by irrigation using insufficiently treated water without adequate flushing,
are harming crop production in several areas. Remediation technology
and education on “best practices” offer opportunities for U.S. firms to
help
U.S. firms generally command respect in the region and U.S. technology is highly regarded. This advantage holds true even where English is neither the first nor the second language in the country. However, because this is a region in which environmental awareness and regulations have been relatively slower to develop than in the U.S. and Europe, firms must take the entry strategy that this is a long-term market requiring a sustained commitment. Developing market intelligence, securing solid funding, competitively bidding on tenders, and educating clients and local citizens regarding the complex social costs and health implications of environmental neglect all require a serious and long-term approach. Many of the countries in the region have signed, or are negotiating, association agreements with the EU. While these have not included specific environmental requirements, they increase the likelihood that countries in the region may eventually adopt European standards as they enhance their environmental protection regimes. Personal relationships are crucial to success in business in the region.
These relationships take time to cultivate. In this respect, a local
partner can be extremely helpful in providing the right contacts and proper
bona fides from the outset. Whether seeking to develop a distribution network,
to establish a wholly-owned branch or locally registered subsidiary,
Commercial and/or Economic officers and USAID Missions in the respective
U.S. Embassies and Consulates can provide guidance on local prospects as
well as providing information on business conditions and contacts.
Their names and numbers are listed within each specific chapter.
In addition, the Regional Environmental Hub in Amman, Jordan,
George N. Sibley
Rana Safadi
In Washington D.C. the International Trade Administration’s Office of Environmental Technologies has regional trade specialist for the Middle East: Marc Lemmond
This office also maintains a web site at: http://www.ita.doc.gov/envirotech The World Bank web page can provide access to information about environmental projects in the region: http://www.worldbank.org. For more in-depth information and assistance, the U.S. Department of Commerce also maintains an office at the World Bank: Director, Commercial Liaison Office
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