"After talking to many persons on the island, and partnering with groups and individuals that have the same goals and objectives, I have designed a new platform to promote our country in the USA, with focus on creating opportunities for the Sister City relations between Tallahassee and St. Maarten based on the 12-year-old agreement.
"The new platform is to move forward in the development of joint ventures between business exchange and marketing and promotions. Our country has been a distribution center of goods and services for the past years and now many more doors have been opened since the status change, and the TLH-SXMF will be doing the needful in 2012," Executive Director Lugisse said on Wednesday.
Lugisse kicked off the platform this week by attending the Green Energy Symposium at the State Capitol court yard in Tallahassee, Florida from February 7-9. Many renewable energy companies and ancillary businesses are exhibiting their green products.
Vertical Turbine Power LLC (VTP) revealed to exhibitor attendees two units, a solar powered golf cart and VTP Solar Power Mobile Unit, designed and fabricated by the development company.
The mobile unit is a portable power generator and water filtration system powered by renewable energy. It can be used as a power and waste water plant for a village with no required government input.
Lugisse said now is the time to go green. "Green technology is being promoted all over the world especially with the high costs of fuel, the way to move forward is green. Country St. Maarten needs to also do more in this area and I was very pleased to hear about the plans for the harbor that are being explored in the area of renewable energy.
"This year is International Year of Sustainable Energy for All. The United Nations has called on governments, the private sector and civil society to use renewable and to build a new energy future by using new technology. The TLH-SXMF will be promoting this area throughout 2012 and will work on bringing St. Maarten and Tallahassee entrepreneurs together to develop sustainable energy projects to benefit the development of our country St. Maarten," Arthur Lugisse said on Wednesday.