[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 22 (Friday, February 2, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5008-5010]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-1713]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE


Clean Energy Technologies Trade Mission, India and China, April 
18-25, 2007

AGENCY: International Trade Administration, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The International Trade Administration of the United States 
Department of Commerce is organizing a Clean Energy Technologies Trade 
Mission to India and China, April 18-25, 2007, to be led by Assistant 
Secretary of Commerce for Market Access and Compliance, David Bohigian. 
The trade mission will target a broad range of clean energy 
technologies such as renewable energy, energy efficiency, clean coal, 
and distributed generation. This mission takes place within the context 
of the Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate, a 
public-private partnership in which member countries work together to 
facilitate commercial deployment of technologies that reduce greenhouse 
gas emissions and enhance energy security. The goal of the mission is 
to match participating

[[Page 5009]]

U.S. companies with prescreened partner agents, distributors, 
representatives, licensees or retailers in each of these important 
sectors. The mission will include meetings with national and local 
government officials, networking opportunities, one-on-one business 
meetings, country briefings by experts, and site visits.

DATES: Recruitment will begin immediately and will close on March 19, 
2007.
    The Trade Mission will take place April 18-25, 2007.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Frank Caliva, U.S. Commercial 
Service--U.S. Department of Commerce, E-mail: 
[email protected], Telephone: 202-482-8245, Mission Web site: 
http://www.export.gov/cleanenergymission.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Commercial Setting

    India: With the rapid growth of its economy, demand for energy in 
India far exceeds its growth in supply. Rising energy prices, worsening 
pollution problems, and energy security risks have created a critical 
need for investments in clean energy. The Government of India has 
prioritized the development of renewable energy. The following factors 
support the growth of the Indian renewables sector: the large demand-
supply gap in electricity; abundant renewable energy resources (solar, 
wind, biomass, and hydro); low gestation periods for establishing 
renewables projects; conducive government policies; availability of 
numerous financing options for capital equipment; and increasing 
industry awareness of the benefits of environmental responsibility. The 
market in India for renewable energy is estimated to be worth $500 
million, and is growing at an annual rate of 15 percent, creating 
strong and diverse business prospects for U.S. renewable energy 
companies.
    As the seat of the national government, New Delhi is also the 
principal end-user of clean energy technology fulfilling the Government 
of India's directives on nation-wide deployment of renewables. In many 
cases, the Government of India provides incentives to promote the 
installation of renewable energy generation projects. New Delhi is also 
one of India's largest metropolitan areas and is in dire need of power 
generation and environmental quality improvements. The city's size 
makes it an attractive market for large investments in clean energy 
projects from solid and liquid wastes, the utilization of which for the 
purposes of energy production is a key national priority.
    Chennai is the capital of Tamil Nadu, and in addition to being one 
of the top five Indian states in terms of foreign direct investment, it 
has the distinction of being a leader in wind energy. The state has 
also taken a lead role in India in promoting solar air heating 
technology. Taking advantage of the state government's investments in 
renewable energy, India's first-of-its kind special economic zone (SEZ) 
for manufacturing and testing of non-conventional energy equipment is 
set to open soon in Chennai. The project is expected to attract an 
investment of $65-$90 million over the next four years and will 
encompass over 1,000 acres. Chennai is also the location of the Center 
for Wind Energy Technology, a research institute active in all aspects 
of wind energy.
    China: Due to rapidly increasing energy demand and the desire to 
expand the use of non-fossil fuels, the Chinese government is targeting 
the development of clean energy technologies in its current 11th Five 
Year Plan. Emphasized sectors include clean coal technologies, wind 
power, solar power, and biomass.
    Beijing is unique in China in that it is a city with provincial 
status, enabling its municipal government to approve independent 
foreign investment projects up to a value of $30 million. This has 
positioned Beijing as an attractive location for foreign investment in 
China. As the national capital, Beijing offers unparalleled access to 
meet with Chinese policymakers. There is a strong market for clean 
energy technologies in Beijing, due to its size and economic 
importance. The selection of the city as the host of the 2008 Summer 
Olympic Games has spurred substantial government investment in projects 
that improve environmental quality.
    Nanjing (population 5,000,000), a few hours from Shanghai along the 
Yangtze River, is one of China's most developed cities. Power and 
energy are among the city's core industries. The city hosts one of 
China's largest trade fairs on renewable/clean energy and is currently 
undertaking a prominent provincial-level project to create an efficient 
power plant. The project is intended to achieve energy conservation and 
efficiency by implementing new technologies, and is rooted in demand-
side management familiar to U.S. companies. The utilization of clean, 
renewable energy and energy efficiency are crucial components of the 
project.
    Mission Goals: The Trade Mission's goal is to facilitate market 
entry or increased sales into these significant markets for U.S. clean 
technologies firms, as well to assist the mission participants in 
gaining first-hand market information and access to key government 
officials and potential business partners.
    Mission Scenario: In India and China, the International Trade 
Administration will:
     Provide a market briefing highlighting opportunities in 
the clean technologies sectors.
     Schedule one-on-one appointments with potential business 
partners for each participant.
     Provide a venue for the one-on-one appointments and 
provide interpreters as needed.
     Provide networking opportunities with the private and 
public sectors.
     Organize relevant site visits.

Proposed Mission Timetable

Tuesday, April 17, 2007
    Arrive in Chennai
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
    Business appointments in Chennai
    Evening reception
Thursday, April 19, 2007
    Site visit, additional appointments in Chennai
    Afternoon flight to New Delhi
    Evening reception in New Delhi
Friday, April 20, 2007
    Business appointments in New Delhi
Saturday, April 21, 2007
    Free day in New Delhi
    Evening flight to Beijing
Sunday, April 22, 2007
    Free day in Beijing
Monday, April 23, 2007
    Business appointments in Beijing
    Evening reception in Beijing
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
    Site visit in a.m.
    Afternoon flight to Nanjing
    Evening reception in Nanjing
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
    Business appointments in Nanjing
    Conclusion of trade mission
    (It is possible for companies to participate in one or both 
countries of this trade mission.)

Criteria for Participation

     Relevance of the company's business line to the mission 
scope and goals.
     Potential for business in the selected markets.
     Timeliness of the company's completed application, 
participation agreement, and payment of the mission participation fee.
     Provision of adequate information on the company's 
products and/or services and communication of the company's primary 
objectives to facilitate appropriate matching with potential business 
partners.
     Certification that the company's products and/or services 
are

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manufactured or produced in the United States or if manufactured/
produced outside of the United States, the product/service must be 
marketed under the name of a U.S. firm and have U.S. content 
representing at least 51 percent of the value of the finished good or 
service.
     Diversity of sectors represented.
    Any partisan political activities of an applicant, including 
political contributions, will be entirely irrelevant to the selection 
process.
    The mission will be promoted through the following venues: ITA's 
Export Assistance Centers, the Energy Team, the Asia Pacific Team, the 
Africa, Near East, and South Asia Team, Global Trade Programs; the 
Trade Events List http://www.export.gov; industry newsletters; the 
Federal Register; the Asia-Pacific Partnership for Clean Development 
and Climate; relevant trade publications; relevant trade associations; 
past Commerce trade mission participants; various in-house and 
purchased industry lists; and on the Commerce Department trade missions 
calendar: http://www.ita.doc.gov/doctm/tmcal.html.
    Recruitment will begin immediately and will close on March 19, 
2007. Qualified U.S. companies/applicants will be selected on a rolling 
basis. The trade mission participation fee will be U.S. $4,900 per 
company. (If a company would like to participate in just the India 
portion or just the China portion of the trade mission, the 
participation fee will be $2,450.) There will be an additional fee of 
$750 per country for each additional participant a company sends. The 
participation fee does not include the cost of travel, lodging, ground 
transportation, or some meals. Participation is open to 20 qualified 
U.S. companies. Applications received after that date will be 
considered only if space and scheduling constraints permit.

    Dated: January 30, 2007.
David Bohigian,
Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Market Access & Compliance.
[FR Doc. E7-1713 Filed 2-1-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DA-P