BEIJING, China - (September 13, 2001) On Tuesday, September 11, on behalf of the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (TDA), Ms. Maria Cino, Director General of the U.S. Foreign and Commercial Service, and Mr. Mao Qiping, Vice Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Office of PetroChina Company Limited (PetroChina), signed a $468,000 TDA-funded training grant. The grant will allow Universal Ensco, Incorporated of Houston, Texas to design and provide management and staff training programs related to the West-East Natural Gas Pipeline in the People's Republic of China.

The grant was signed at the Oil and Gas Industry Forum in Beijing and was witnessed by the Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of Energy, Mr. Robert Kripowicz, and the Vice-Chairman of the Chinese State Development Planning Commission, Mr. Zhang Guobao. TDA's Regional Director for Asia, Mr. Geoffrey Jackson, was also present at the signing ceremony.

The West-East Gas Pipeline Project is a 4,000-kilometer pipeline stretching from the Tarim Basin in the far west to Shanghai on the East coast. Construction is planned to begin in October 2001 and is expected to be completed by June 2004. The pipeline will play a significant role in promoting economic development, meeting increasing energy demand, and enhancing industry development throughout China. It is the largest of the development projects that seek to vitalize China's less-developed western areas.

Universal Ensco will compile and present training programs to PetroChina employees and their Chinese consultants and contractors on the management, engineering, construction, and operations of natural gas pipelines. This grant re-emphasizes TDA's relationship with China and has the potential to result in $200 million in U.S. exports.

The U.S. Trade and Development Agency promotes American private sector participation by helping U.S. companies pursue business opportunities in developing and middle-income countries. Through the funding of feasibility studies, orientation visits, specialized training grants, business workshops, and various forms of technical assistance, TDA helps American businesses compete for infrastructure projects in emerging markets. In addition, the agency promotes capacity building initiatives and supports U.S. government trade, economic policy and development objectives around the world.

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