New USAID Director meets with PPA companies to celebrate results

On September 26, newly arrived USAID Country Director Ted Gehr met with representatives of the companies engaged in the Partnership Platform for the Amazon (PPA). The new director congratulated them on the results achieved during the first two years of the initiative – such as the Acceleration Program, which has already incubated 15 projects (which have also attracted more than R$ 1 million in partnership investments), among others.

Mr. William Popp, Chargé d'Affaires a.i. of the United States in Brazil, also attended the meeting and stressed the importance of private sector participation in conservation efforts. In addition to providing an opportunity for Mr Gehr to meet PPA partners, the meeting also launched a discussion on potential changes in PPA governance and corporate involvement. A new partnership between USAID and the Humanize Institute was also signed on the occasion. About 10 companies attended the meeting, including Cargill, Coca-Cola, Beraca, Sabin Institute, and others.