BANGKOK, THAILAND, April 4 -- The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private sector investment arm of the World Bank Group, is holding an Eco-efficiency Workshop on 4-5 April at the Imperial Hotel in Bangkok, for Thai companies in the dyeing and bleaching textile sector. The rapid economic development of Asia and the equally rapid depletion of natural resources which has ensued, has led to a dramatic tightening in the standards and enforcement of environmental regulations. Industries with large export markets are also finding increasing pressure from abroad to improve their environmental performance and standards. The workshop is provided to help companies review and improve their environmental performance while at the same time gaining a long-term competitive advantage and greater business efficiency. "Polluting the environment is no longer an acceptable way to do business and will ultimately result in a company's failure to survive on international markets," says Martyn Riddle, Manager of IFC's Environment Division. "Business excellence and environmental concern can be combined in the concept of Eco-efficiency. By this we mean that companies are able to produce ever more goods and services while continuously reducing resource consumption and pollution. It is the only way for companies to survive in the long term." The workshop, which is sponsored by the Commission of the European Communities, has been jointly organized by IFC, the Textile Industry Division of the Ministry of Industry of Thailand and the Regional Institute of Environmental Technology in Singapore. It is the first in a series designed for the Asia region. Among the experts participating are Dr. Nantaya Yanumet of Chulalongkorn University, Dr. Prasert Tapaneeyangkul of the Department of Industrial works, Ministry of Industry and Mr. Warun Hanwongrith of the Management Consultant. Case studies of successful environmental initiatives are also to be presented by Thanapaisal R.O.P. and Siam Knitwear and Garment Co. Ltd.
