AMBASSADOR TOURS SAN PEDRO SULA, PROMOTES CLEAN ENERGY

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 000224 STATE FOR WHA/CEN, WHA/EPSC, EEB/BTA, EEB/ESC, OES/EGC SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON ELAB ENRG ETRD KTEX PGOV HO SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR TOURS SAN PEDRO SULA, PROMOTES CLEAN ENERGY Ref: 08 Tegucigalpa 1125 ¶1. Summary: The Ambassador visited the commercial city of San Pedro Sula to deliver a keynote address at a renewable energy conference. In his speech he described Post's Renewable Energy Strategy (reftel) and affirmed shared goals in this sector. In meetings with the business communities of San Pedro and El Progreso, the Ambassador reassured private sector leaders that the United States is committed to Honduras for the long haul, despite the worldwide economic crisis. The Ambassador also toured two charity projects to increase awareness of the support offered by non-governmental organizations in the country. The local and national media widely covered the speech and all of the Ambassador's meetings. End Summary. -------------- The Hope of Renewable Energy -------------- ¶2. On February 27, the Ambassador delivered the closing address at Expo Energia 2009, the fourth annual regional renewable energy conference hosted by the Environment and Natural Resources Ministry (SERNA) and private sector think-tank FIDE. His speech described the commitment of the new U.S. Administration to support renewable energy at home and abroad. He called for the renewable energy sector to lead the way toward energy security, greenhouse gas reduction and poverty alleviation. Conference participants and the press praised the speech and the attention it brought to US-Honduras partnership on renewable energy. USAID supported the costs of one of the conference speakers, in further support of Mission's Renewable Energy Strategy. -------------- Businesses Seek Hope in Economic Crisis -------------- ¶3. The Ambassador met with the San Pedro Sula Chamber of Commerce and the Honduran Manufacturers Association (AHM) to express U.S. solidarity with the economic difficulties they are facing. A few businesses are prospering because of diversification and creativity, but most business managers and owners reported major difficulties and concern about the future. According to the AHM, about 20,000 jobs have been lost in the export-processing free-trade zones ("maquilas") since the onset of the crisis, with another 10,000 lay-offs announced to occur before the end of May. The Ambassador reaffirmed the friendship between the United States and Honduras and urged business leaders to consider programs that would support the unemployed until the world economy bounces back. ¶4. The Ambassador made his first visit to the Chamber of Commerce in El Progreso, a former banana town that has evolved into a manufacturing center. In a breakfast event attended by approximately 200 business leaders from many surrounding chambers, the Ambassador spoke about U.S.-Honduran relations, security programs under the Merida Initiative, and the Embassy's agenda to promote public-private partnerships and renewable energy. He was well received by the participants and the press and was presented with the keys to the city of El Progreso. -------------- Hope Delivered by Charities -------------- ¶5. The Ambassador visited two charity organizations with links to the United States. In El Progreso, he visited orphaned children and poverty-stricken adults who have been given education and a home through the group Students Helping Students (SHS). Started by two recent university graduates, SHS recruits students from the United States to make community service trips to Honduras to build houses with the adults or teach and care for the orphans. His visit attracted news media who can garner additional community support for this effort. ¶6. The Ambassador also visited a project run by FUNADEH, an NGO for women and children that was founded with USAID support in 1983. The foundation has expanded its services to include a microcredit program with many private partners. The organization runs a training center to create employment among women and an educational facility for the neighborhood youth. FUNADEH is located in the Chamelecon neighborhood of San Pedro Sula, where the Narcotics Affairs Section of the Embassy began a pilot community policing project. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶7. Post reported septel a strategy for assisting Honduras cope with the impact of the global economic crisis. Post also welcomes further Washington ideas for promoting renewable energy in Honduras per reftel. End Comment. LLORENS