INDUSTRY NEWS GOING GREEN BENEFITS BUSINESS


"Adopting green transport plans can be better for business." said Environment Minister Alan Meale. Speaking at the Association of Commuter Transport he highlighted how business and individuals could gain financial and other benefits by rethinking travel arrangements and could play a key part in improving health and the environment.


He set out recent moves to identify more clearly what the benefits are:


• A new contract awarded to consultants to prepare a guide for employers on the costs and benefits of green transport plans, setting the costs of such plans in the context of employers' existing transport-related expenditure and providing them with advice on how costs can be overcome or reduced. They will also highlight the wide range of potential benefits that green transport plans can bring to employers and their staff


• A study to be commissioned shortly, looking at ways in which commercial benefits can be maximised - the opportunities for products and services to be developed in association with green transport plans.


Mr Meale said "There is growing awareness that green transport plans can contribute to reducing pollution and local congestion as well as providing employees with genuine alternatives to getting to work by car. Now we


are beginning to see the commercial benefits business can gain as well. The motor car has brought many personal benefits but everyone knows that we need to work to cut down the harm traffic can do to health and the environment. We need to reduce the impact of transport on local air quality and global climate change. We also need to tackle vehicle noise and cut our reliance on cars to make towns and cities better places to live. The Government is determined to protect environmentally sensitive areas and sites. Our success will stand or fall on improving alternatives to the car."


Local transport plans, five-year strategies prepared by local authorities and covering all forms of transport are central to our New Deal for Transport proposals and will cover all forms of transport. Green transport plans for journeys to work, schools and hospitals will form an important element in these strategies.


Measures will also focus on better maintenance of cycle paths, lanes and footpaths with those cycling and walking given priority at junctions, more safe crossing places and more widespread secure cycle parking.


The contract to prepare a guide for employers on the costs and benefits of green transport plans has been awarded to Oscar Faber. The Department hopes to publish the guide next summer.


ASSISTING EUROPEAN SMEs IN ASIA


Asia Invest is a new European Commission funded programme aimed at promoting business co-operation between European and Asian SMEs. The programme has an initial budget of ECU45 million for five years. A network of organisations has been appointed in the Member states of which the CBI is one in the UK.


UK SMEs in conjunction with SMEs from other member states, and often working through Chambers of Commerce, can apply for part-financing for a number of different activities, including:


• • • •


researching new Asian markets


forming joint ventures w ith Asian partners identifying investment opportunities


language and business culture familiarisation.


Funding is also available to groups of SMEs from particular industrial sectors, which can be co-ord inated through trade associations. The Commission is expected to issue a call for proposals before December 1998.


Further details about the programme and how companies can take advantage of monies available are to be found on the Asia Invest Website http://www.asia-invest.com or please call Lucy Findlay at the CBI on Tel: 0171 395 8139.


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