[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 128 (Tuesday, July 6, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40624-40625]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-15225]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration


Environmental Technologies Trade Mission

AGENCY: International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice to announce environmental technologies trade mission to 
China and Hong Kong, October 26-November 2, 2004.

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SUMMARY: The United States Department of Commerce, International Trade 
Administration, U.S. Commercial Service is organizing an Environmental 
Technologies Trade Mission to Hong Kong and Beijing and Shanghai, China 
on October 26-November 2, 2004. This event offers a timely opportunity 
for U.S. firms to tap into some of the world's fastest growing markets 
for U.S. environmental equipment and technology.

CONTACT: Office of Business Liaison; Room 5062; Department of Commerce; 
Washington, DC 20230; Tel: (202) 482-1360; Fax: (202) 482-4054.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Environmental Technologies Trade Mission 
Hong Kong and Beijing and Shanghai, China October 26-November 2, 2004.

Mission Statement

I. Description of the Mission

    The United States Department of Commerce, International Trade 
Administration, U.S. Commercial Service is organizing an Environmental 
Technologies Trade Mission to Hong Kong and Beijing and Shanghai, China 
on October 26-November 2, 2004. This event offers a timely opportunity 
for U.S. firms to tap into some of the world's fastest growing markets 
for U.S. environmental equipment and technology. Target subsectors with 
best prospects for U.S exporters to China and Hong Kong include solid 
waste (medical and hazardous) treatment, wastewater (municipal and 
industrial) treatment, and air pollution control equipment. Mission 
participants will benefit from country briefings; one-to-one 
appointments with prospective business contacts; high-level meetings 
with government officials; and site visits. In addition, the mission is 
strategically timed to facilitate attendance at Pollutec China 2004, 
November 3-5, 2004, in Shanghai. Offered this year for the first time 
in China, Pollutec will build on its 20-year success in France, where 
more than 2,200 exhibitors from 32 countries and 63,000 trade visitors 
do business annually. Pollutec China 2004 is a U.S. Department of 
Commerce Certified Trade Fair.

II. Commercial Setting for the Mission

    China is expected to spend $84 billion (1.2% of GDP) on 
environmental protection to meet the goals of the 10th five-year plan 
(2001-2005). During this 5-year period, the central government is 
expected to make 11.4% ($9.7 billion) of the investment, while 34% will 
come from provincial and local governments and the remaining 55% from 
business enterprises. Beijing alone is projected to spend at least $5.4 
billion on environmental clean-up in preparation for the 2008 Olympics.
    China and its foreign lenders still spend far more on the water 
sector than on air and solid waste, especially on the clean-up of 
priority river basins and lakes, thus offering the best opportunities 
for U.S. exporters. In November 2000, the State Council issued a notice 
requiring all cities with populations over 100,000 to build wastewater 
treatment facilities by 2005. To meet funding demands, water tariffs 
have been on the rise in most major cities in the last few years, and 
cities are starting to levy increased wastewater surcharges. Among the 
water pollution issues, groundwater contamination is a serious problem. 
Industrial factories are top groundwater polluters. Local environmental 
protection bureaus are responsible for inspection and investigation of 
groundwater pollution emergencies, and urge polluters to complement 
clean-up of the pollution. Best water and wastewater export 
opportunities to China include those related to river basin management 
and flood control, water reuse, and sludge treatment and disposal. 
Specific products in strong demand include water monitoring 
instruments, drinking water purification products, and industrial 
wastewater treatment equipment.
    Solid waste treatment, predominately through incineration and 
landfill, is expanding as China is slowly beginning to enforce its 
comprehensive solid and hazardous waste law. At present, China plans to 
allocate $1.8 billion for the implementation of this plan, which 
includes construction of 31 hazardous waste treatment centers and 300 
centralized medical waste treatment facilities; reconstruction, 
expansion and establishment of 31 warehouses for radioactive waste at 
the provincial level; and the establishment of 31 hazardous waste 
registration centers at the provincial level. The State Environmental 
Protection Administration is now in the process of identifying advanced 
hazardous waste treatment technologies suitable for China's situation. 
U.S. companies offering hazardous waste solutions hold strong potential 
in the China market.
    In the air pollution control subsector, current focuses in China 
include SO2 and acid rain control, as well as curbing 
vehicle emissions. The most recent regulatory requirements mandate that 
China observe an emissions standard equivalent to Europe II by the end 
of 2004. It is also reported that China is going to further raise the 
emissions standard to Europe III equivalent around the year 2008. In 
addition, China requires that all coal-fired power plants install 
desulfurization equipment by the year 2010. Air pollution control 
products that enjoy the best sales prospects in China include low-cost 
flue gas desulfurization and de-NOX systems, air monitoring 
instruments, and vehicle emissions control and inspection devices.
    The Hong Kong Government has made water pollution control and solid 
waste treatment top priorities. While Hong Kong is a service-oriented 
economy and its industrial pollution is insignificant, cross-border 
pollution remains a big concern. For water and solid waste, the Hong 
Kong Government is formulating plans to resolve the problems 
internally. In 2002, total government expenditure devoted to 
environmental protection work amounted to approximately US$825 million, 
including US$190 million for sewage services (planning, design and 
construction of sewage systems, and sewage treatment and disposal

[[Page 40625]]

facilities); US$580 million for drainage and water works, improvement 
of air quality, prevention of noise problems, and solid waste 
treatment; and $55 million for environmental assessment and planning. 
The Hong Kong Government has earmarked some US$775 million annually for 
environmental infrastructure improvement during the past two years.
    Best prospects for U.S. environmental exports to Hong Kong include 
analytical instruments, vehicle emission particulate reduction devices, 
water filtration equipment (such as biological filtration), 
disinfection technologies (UV, membrane and ozonation), analytical 
instruments, mechanical waste sorting and separation, composting, 
incineration, and waste-to-energy technologies.

III. Goals for the Mission

    The goal of the China/Hong Kong Trade Mission is to enable trade 
mission participants to gain first-hand market exposure to government 
decision makers and private sector potential agents, distributors and 
business partners so they can be positioned to take advantage of the 
strong environmental business opportunities in China and Hong Kong.

IV. Scenario for the Mission

    The Environmental Trade Mission will include three stops: Hong 
Kong, Beijing and Shanghai. In each city, trade mission participants 
will benefit from country briefings and one-on-one business meetings 
with prospective agents, distributors, partners, and end users. In 
Shanghai and Beijing companies will also hold high-level meetings with 
government officials regarding regulatory and project opportunities, as 
well as visit environmental projects holding business potential. After 
the close of the trade mission, from November 3-5, mission participants 
can opt to remain in Shanghai to visit or exhibit on their own at 
Pollutec China 2004. As an added bonus to trade mission companies, 
their product literature will be displayed in the USA Pavilion at 
Pollutec.
Timetable
    Timetable for the trade mission will be as follows:

Hong Kong:
    Tuesday, Oct. 26--Late Afternoon Briefing.
    Wednesday, Oct. 27--One-on-one meetings; Early evening travel to 
Beijing.
Beijing:
    Thursday, Oct. 28--Briefing; Meetings with Federal and State 
government regulatory and project administration agencies; Site visit.
    Friday, Oct. 29--One-on-one meetings.
Shanghai:
    Monday, Nov. 1--Briefing; Shanghai Government meetings; Site visit.
    Tuesday, Nov. 2--One-on-one meetings; Conclusion.
    Wed/Thurs, Nov. 3-5--Optional participation in Pollutec China 04.

V. Criteria for Participant Selection

     Relevance of a company's business line to mission goals.
     Timeliness of company's signed application and 
participation agreement (including a participation fee of $3,400).
     Potential for business in China and Hong Kong for the 
company.
     Minimum of eight and maximum of twelve participating 
companies in the mission.
     Provision of adequate information on company's products 
and/or services, and company's primary market objectives, in order to 
facilitate appropriate matching with potential business partners.
     Certification that the company meets Departmental 
guidelines for participation. A company's products or services must be 
either produced in the United States, or, if not, marketed under the 
name of a U.S. firm and have at least 51 percent U.S. content of the 
value of the finished product or service.
    Any partisan political activities (including political 
contributions) of an applicant are entirely irrelevant to the selection 
process.
    Mission recruitment will be conducted in an open and public manner, 
including publication in the Federal Register, posting on the Commerce 
Department trade mission calendar--http://www.ita.doc.gov/doctm/tmcal.html--and other Internet Web sites, press releases to the general 
and trade media, direct mail and broadcast fax, notices by industry 
trade associations and other multiplier groups, and at industry 
meetings, symposia, conferences, trade shows.
    Recruitment for the mission will begin in June 2004 and conclude no 
later than September 15, 2004. The mission will target 8-12 companies. 
The participation fee for the event will be $3,400 per company. The 
participation fee does not include travel and lodging costs. 
Applications received after the closing date will be considered only if 
space and scheduling constraints permit.
U.S. Contact Information
    Julia Rauner Guerrero, Environmental Technologies Team, San Diego 
U.S. Export Assistance Center, Phone: (619) 557-2963, E-mail: 
[email protected].
    Yvonne Jackson, Export Promotion Services, Washington, DC, Phone: 
(202) 482-2675, E-mail: [email protected].
    Sue Simon, Trade Development, Washington, DC, Phone: 202-482-0713, 
E-mail: [email protected].

    Dated: June 24, 2004.
John Klingelhut,
Senior Advisor, Export Promotion Services.
[FR Doc. 04-15225 Filed 7-2-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-P