The International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) was honored today with the President’s “E” Award for Export Service by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross at the U.S. Department of Commerce headquarters in Washington, D.C.
Created by Executive Order by President Kennedy in 1961, the President’s “E” Award recognizes persons, firms, or organizations that contribute significantly in the effort to increase United States exports. IAPMO’s efforts within Indonesia have been recognized as exemplifying the kind of work the award seeks to spotlight.
“The ‘E’ Awards Committee was very impressed with IAPMO’s success in supporting foreign adoption of U.S. developed and internationally recognized plumbing standards to open new export markets in Asia,” Ross said. “The organization’s opening of a testing and certification facility in Jakarta to facilitate the exports of U.S. plumbing products to Indonesia was also particularly notable. IAPMO’s achievements have undoubtedly contributed to national export expansion efforts that support the U.S. economy and create American jobs.”
IAPMO Executive Vice President of Advocacy and Research Pete DeMarco, Senior Vice President of Government Relations Dain Hansen, and Director of Government Relations Christopher Lindsay attended the ceremony and accepted the award from Secretary Ross.
Five years ago, IAPMO received a $296,000 award from the U.S. Commerce Department’s International Trade Administration’s (ITA) Market Development Cooperator Program (MDCP) intended to increase the competitiveness of the U.S. plumbing supply industry abroad by generating exports to Indonesia. The Strategic Partnership — the only of its kind between ITA and a U.S. plumbing code development organization — has yielded noteworthy results. A 2013 memorandum of understanding between IAPMO and Indonesia’s National Standardization Agency resulted in a comprehensive body of regulations — SNI 8153:2015, Plumbing Systems for Buildings — being adopted as the technical basis for Indonesia’s water/sanitation infrastructure. These regulations are improving public safety and the longevity of Indonesia’s infrastructure while also creating greater opportunities for the sale of U.S. plumbing products and services in the Indonesian market. As a result, total annualized U.S. plumbing exports to Indonesia increased by 85% over the pre-project period baseline.
The partnership is also playing a key role in helping the U.S. government achieve the vision laid out in the 2017 U.S. Government Global Water Strategy. The strategy focuses on steps that can be taken to sustainably grow water and sanitation services globally and recognizes that “water can be a means of strengthening governance, civil society engagement, and resilience at all levels.” It further states that the “United States benefits directly from engaging on international water issues” and that part of the overall vision of the strategy is to “open up international markets to U.S. technologies and approaches.”
The partnership is an example of how the U.S. government and private sector can work together to realize the vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific region in partnership with foreign markets. The work of this partnership not only advances fair and reciprocal trade for U.S. plumbing exports, but also advances high-quality infrastructure development for Asia — a region that needs roughly $26 trillion of infrastructure investment by 2030, according to the U.S. Commerce Department.
“We are thrilled to be recognized with the President’s ‘E’ Award in recognition of our work to improve U.S. manufacturer competitiveness throughout key regions of the world,” said IAPMO CEO GP Russ Chaney. “Our work in collaboration with the Commerce Department, ITA, and other supportive entities within Indonesia has been a major success. We’ll continue our efforts to promote U.S. technology throughout key regions and markets around the world.”
Founded in 1926, IAPMO focuses its comprehensive services on the technical aspects of the plumbing and mechanical industries. Its membership includes trained labor and contractors, engineers, domestic and non-domestic product manufacturers, suppliers, plumbing and mechanical inspectors, and building officials. IAPMO has assisted with code and standard development, educational programs, and/or conformity assessment services in regions around the world. IAPMO has also assisted international aid organizations to help bring sound, efficient water/sanitation systems to developing nations.
For more information on the award or IAPMO’s work in Asia, contact Hansen at (202) 445-7514 or dain.hansen@iapmo.org.
Last modified: May 23, 2019