WESF plays a role in promoting standardization and eliminating global trade barriers.
With members of the World Bank Department of Infrastructure
On the advice of the WFEO-UN Relations Committee (WURC), I visited the United States of America to have meetings with the following Officials/Organizations:
The World Bank Headquarters at Washington DC
Dr. Patricia Gruber, the Chief Advisor to the Secretary of the Department of State, Washington DC
The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), Washington DC
Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, Washington DC
UNEP New York Office
UNDESA, UN Headquarters, New York
On Monday 21 October 2024, I had the honour of leading a delegation of WFEO to the Headquarters of the World Bank in Washington DC. We had fruitful meeting with the Vice President for Infrastructure Mr. Guangzhe Chen and senior members of his department identifying areas of collaboration like sustainable and disaster resilient procurement process, the WFEO Academy and engineering capacity building for Africa Programme.
I was accompanied by Dr. KN Gunalan, Chair of the WFEO-UN Relations Committee (WURC); Mr. Michael Sanio, Executive Director & Founder of Atlas Initiative for Climate Resilient Infrastructure (Atlas) and Chair of UPADI Sustainability Committee and Mr. Jan Hartke, Chairman and Founder of Atlas.
We used the opportunity to pay a courtesy visit to the World Bank Alternate Executive Director for Nigeria, South Africa and Angola, Mrs. Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed in her office.
With World Bank Vice President for Infrastructure Mr. Guangzhe Chen
From left to right: With Mr. Michael Sanio, Alt Executive Director Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed, Dr. KN Gunalan and Mr. Jan Hartke
On Tuesday 22 October 2024, I visited Dr. Patricia Gruber, the Chief Advisor on Science and Technology to the Secretary of the Department of State. I briefed her on the activities of WFEO, where is indicated interest of the US government to support the Engineering Capacity Building for Africa Programme. A letter giving her details of the programme was sent to her at a later date.
With Mr. Michael Sanio, Dr. Patricia Gruber and Dr. KN Gunalan
On Tuesday 22 October 2024, I visited the Headquarters of the American Society of Civil Engineers. We were received by the Immediate Past President Dr. Marsia Gildert-Murphy and the Executive Director Tomas Smith.
The date also coincided with the visit of the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) President Dr. Anusha Shah. We were taken round the Headquarter building and briefed on the activities of the ASCE, to which I was excited and encouraged them to do more in the interest of the engineering profession and the global community.
With ICE President Anusha Shah and ASCE IPP Marsia Gildert-Murphy
Group Photograph during the Visit
On Wednesday 23 October 2024, Dr. Gunalan and I were invited to attend the Roundtable Discussions of the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) at the World Bank Headquarters Complex. We briefed the Roundtable on the efforts of WFEO on the subject matter through the Committee on Disaster Risk and Mitigation (CDRM).
Group Photograph during the Visit at the Roundtable Discussion
On Thursday 24 October 2024, I visited the New York office of UNEP where we met with Dr. Ligia Noronha who is the Head of the UNEP Office and the UN Assistant Secretary-General.
With Dr. Ligia Noronha
On Thursday 24 October 2024, I visited UNDESA where we met with Dr. Wei Liu, the Coordinator, UN Inter-Agency Task Team on Science, technology and Innovation for the SDGs, DSDG/DESA. He assured us of a stronger collaboration with the United Nations.
With Dr. KN Gunalan and Dr. Wei Liu