[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 36 (Wednesday, February 25, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8503-8506]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-3953]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
Notice and Call for Applications for the Environmental and Clean
Energy Technologies Trade Mission to Croatia, Italy, and Greece, March
30 to April 4, 2009
AGENCY: International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.
ACTION: Notice and Call for Applications for the Environmental and
Clean Energy Technologies Trade Mission to Croatia, Italy, and Greece,
March 30 to April 4, 2009.
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Mission Description
The United States Department of Commerce, International Trade
Administration, U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service (USFCS) is
organizing an Environmental and Clean Energy Technologies Trade Mission
to Zagreb, Croatia; Milan, Italy; and Athens, Greece, from March 30 to
April 4, 2009. All three fast growing markets hold promising potential
for U.S. firms offering equipment, services, and technologies in the
target sectors. The mission will introduce participating U.S. firms to
prospective representatives, distributors, end-users, and partners
through one-on-one appointments in all three cities and will include
participation in the EcoTec Environmental Tradeshow (EcoTec 2009) in
Athens, where the USFCS will provide entry to the trade show, manage a
booth, and organize meetings with business and industry contacts for
each of the mission participants.
Commercial Setting
Greece
Environmental protection is a priority issue in Greece, where the
market for environmental equipment and services is expected to far
outstrip local capacity in the future. The Greek Ministry of
Environment estimates the country's environmental market to be about
US$2.2 billion, or 1.5 percent of GDP. Investment in environmental
infrastructure through European Union (EU) and national programs has
been the centerpiece of environmental progress in Greece. These
investments have been used to construct numerous wastewater and solid
waste treatment facilities, as well as new recycling plants, composting
facilities, and treatment plants for industrial and hazardous waste
materials.
The implementation of EU environmental legislation in national laws
has created the institutional basis for successfully facing
environmental protection challenges. In January 2007, the Minister of
Environment announced a US$6.3 billion investment plan for 2007-2013
for the upgrading, modernization and maintenance of environmental
projects in waste management, recycling, and water treatment, to be
implemented under the ``Environment and Sustainable Development''
program.
Following EU directives and practices, Greece is committed to
introducing the necessary legislative framework for promoting the use
of ``clean'' or ``green'' technologies. Renewable energy will play a
major role in these initiatives. Furthermore, in an effort to catch up
with commitments under the Kyoto Protocol, Greece's Minister of
Environment has approved a National Allocation Plan for Emission
Trading for 2008-2012, which aims to bring about a 16.6 percent
reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
Areas holding the greatest potential for U.S. firms in the Greek
environmental market include waste management, recycling and biomass
facilities; hazardous waste treatment and disposal; water treatment;
air and sea pollution control; clean coal plants; ``green'' building
materials; emissions monitoring and reduction; and photovoltaic plants.
At the EcoTec Environmental Tradeshow, to be held April 3-6, 2009,
[[Page 8504]]
mission members will have opportunities to meet with business and
industry contacts in a range of sectors, including renewable energy,
recycling, ecoconstruction, waste management, wastewater treatment,
environmental restoration, energy conservation, and alternative fuels.
EcoTec 2009 is expected to attract technical experts, local and
national management councils, large commercial entities, construction
companies, government procurement executives, investors, researchers,
and various business representatives from all over Greece and
neighboring countries (for details, see: http://www.EcoTec.gr/Site%20EcoTec%20final/Hekthesh_eng.html).
Italy
Italy's US$6 billion environmental market--of which machinery and
equipment account for approximately US$1 billion--offers significant
opportunities to U.S. firms providing innovative technologies. Waste
management is a major issue driving Italy's environmental policy. While
the practices of waste minimization and separate waste collection,
waste re-use, recycling, and recovery are growing, urban and industrial
waste disposal in Italy still depends largely on landfills. Investments
of several billion dollars are expected over the next few years to
adopt innovative recycling technologies and to build near-to-zero
emission waste-to-energy plants. Recent implementation of the EU
directive on waste and electronic equipment recycling is expected to
expand opportunities for U.S. firms offering technological innovation.
Italy's water collection and distribution systems, as well as its
urban wastewater sewage and purification systems, are also inadequate.
Measures to encourage more sustainable use of water resources include
new legislation for water reuse and investments in innovative
technologies to prevent and detect water losses. The total investment
to implement an integrated water system comprising aqueducts, sewage
systems and treatment services could reach US$55 billion countrywide in
the next ten years.
With regard to soil remediation, specific legislation has
established the criteria, procedures, and methods for safety and clean-
up actions for environmental restoration of contaminated sites. The
Italian Government has identified 40 Italian sites of ``National
Interest'' in need of urgent clean up. It is estimated that at least
15,000 areas in Italy are currently subject to environmental
investigation and/or remediation actions. Innovative technologies in
this sector are in high demand.
Italy has implemented restrictive air pollution control legislation
in compliance with stringent EU regulations to cut greenhouse gas
emissions by 20 percent. The environmental impact of private and public
transportation remains a major problem. Italy's major municipalities
have implemented a large number of projects, and the Italian Government
is offering incentives to substitute older vehicles with new vehicles
with lower environmental impact, but there is still much to be done.
As far as energy is concerned, Italy depends on foreign suppliers
for about 80 percent of its needs. Interest in renewable energy has
become an important issue on the Italian Government's agenda, and there
is substantial effort in research and development to expand the use of
alternative sources of energy, especially biomass, geothermal, solar
(both photovoltaic and solar thermal), and wind energy.
Green building also represents an increasingly promising market, as
European and local norms steer builders in that direction. Italy lags
behind other European countries, but the trend is positive, and green
building represents a very dynamic market niche.
While competition in Italy is fierce, U.S. environmental and energy
technologies are highly regarded there. Moreover, Italy's strategic
Mediterranean location makes it an ideal gateway to the emerging
markets of Eastern Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. Several
Italian firms specializing in turn-key operations have strengthened
their position in foreign markets. The right Italian partner could
assist U.S. firms not only in penetrating the Italian market, but also
in effectively entering other foreign markets.
Croatia
EU accession is the primary force affecting planning and
procurement in the Croatian environmental sector. Croatia's Ministry of
Environmental Protection, Physical Planning and Construction and the
World Bank estimate that Croatia needs to invest more than US$10
billion in the environmental sector prior to accession, including about
US$2.2 billion for waste management, US$5 billion for wastewater
treatment, and US$56 million for air protection. So far, less than
US$35 million has been directly invested in environmental protection in
Croatia. Expected increases in these investments, in addition to over
US$186 million from EU Pre-Accession Funds delivered over the next
three years, make Croatia an attractive market for U.S. suppliers of
environmental equipment and services.
Four primary environmental subsectors--waste management, wastewater
treatment, air protection and renewable energy--hold opportunities for
U.S. firms. Waste management is currently the largest challenge in
Croatia's environmental sector. Key issues are increases in solid
waste, very limited recycling, unreliable data on waste flows and
quantities, and lack of organized disposal sites. According to plans,
by 2025 most of the population will be included in an organized
municipal waste collection system; recycling and waste treatment will
grow significantly; and municipal and bio-degradable waste will be
significantly reduced. To meet these goals, Croatia is organizing four
regional and 21 county waste management centers with treatment plants
and landfills. Remediation of 176 landfills is also underway, and two
upcoming tenders offer possibilities for U.S. firms. The first, the
Zagreb Waste Management Center, will include an incinerator, recycling
yard, and heat and electricity generating plants at an approximate cost
of US$580 million. The incinerator will be constructed next to the
central wastewater treatment plant, and the resultant sewage sludge,
together with municipal waste, will be used for energy generation. The
second, a hazardous waste incinerator, is estimated to cost US$22
million.
Wastewater management is a key concern in Croatia, particularly in
coastal municipalities. While water supply coverage, 73 percent, is
high compared to other countries in the region, coverage for sewage is
only about 40 percent, and less than 12 percent of all collected
wastewater is being treated. Objectives for bringing Croatian water
management in line with EU regulations include creating a Water
Information System; extending public water supply to 90 percent of the
population; providing wastewater collection, treatment and disposal
systems for 10.5 million people; and implementing flood control and
multi-purpose projects. Other opportunities include three large
wastewater projects currently underway: The US$250 million Coastal
Cities Pollution Control project, sponsored by the World Bank; the
US$38 million Karlovac Wastewater Management Project, financed by the
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development; and the US$18 million
Inland Waters Project, financed by the World Bank.
[[Page 8505]]
The Air Protection Act (2005) governs air quality management in
line with the EU Framework Directive 96/62/EC on ambient air quality
assessment and management. Although Croatia ratified the Kyoto Protocol
in May 2007, efforts are still needed to limit the growth of greenhouse
gas emissions in order to meet Croatia's Kyoto target for the period of
2008 through 2012. Another priority is reduction of acid and other
polluting gaseous emissions from major industrial premises such as
refineries, petrochemical plants, cement factories, and large
combustion plants.
In 2007, Croatia adopted important regulations to support
development of renewable energy projects required to meet the goal of
the minimal 5.8 percent renewable energy share in the total electric
energy supply by 2010. The overall size of the renewable electric
energy projects is about 330 Megawatts of new capacity in the next
three years, estimated to cost approximately US$700 million. Numerous
private sector investors have submitted over a hundred projects for
preliminary approval to the Ministry of Economy, 90 percent of which
are for wind farms. Other renewable energy best prospects include
biomass cogeneration plants, solar thermal collectors, and bio-fuel
plants.
While the Croatian environmental and clean energy markets are
relatively small on the global scale, EU accession has strengthened
emphasis on these sectors, pointing to opportunities for U.S. firms
that are able to offer specialized equipment and services in the near
term to help alleviate Croatia's existing environmental challenges and
thereby position themselves for long-term market access.
Mission Goals
The goals of the Environmental and Clean Energy Technologies Trade
Mission to Italy, Croatia, and Greece are threefold: (1) To help U.S.
firms explore supplier opportunities under various environmental
programs; (2) to help U.S. firms initiate or expand their exports to
these markets by providing business-to-business introductions and
market access information; and (3) to facilitate an effective U.S.
presence at EcoTec in Athens.
Mission Scenario
The mission will stop in Zagreb, proceed to Milan, and conclude in
Athens, at EcoTec 2009. The USFCS in Athens will provide entry to the
trade show, manage a booth, and organize meetings with business and
industry contacts for each of the mission participants. Activities at
all stops will include market briefings; pre-scheduled appointments
with potential partners, distributors, representatives, and end users;
networking receptions; and meetings with USFCS environmental technology
specialists. The USFCS in Athens will continue to maintain a presence
at EcoTec Sunday, April 5, and will assist any mission members wishing
to remain to take advantage of visitor traffic at the show, expected to
be highest that day. This assistance is offered to the delegation at no
additional cost.
Proposed Timetable
Monday, March 30............. Zagreb: Briefing, one-on-one
appointments, evening reception.
Tuesday, March 31............ Morning, conclude appointments/Depart for
Milan.
Wednesday, April 1........... Milan: Briefing, appointments, evening
reception.
Thursday, April 2............ Appointments, site visits/Depart for
Athens.
Friday, April 3.............. Athens: Briefing, appointments, trade
show opening, late afternoon reception.
Saturday, April 4............ Appointments, show activities/Mission
concludes.
Sunday, April 5.............. Bonus day.
Participation Requirements
All parties interested in participating in the Environmental and
Clean Energy Technologies Trade Mission to Italy, Croatia and Greece
must complete and submit an application for consideration by the
Department of Commerce. All applicants will be evaluated on their
ability to meet certain conditions and best satisfy the selection
criteria as outlined below. The mission will open on a first come first
served basis to minimum of seven and maximum of 10 qualified U.S.
companies.
Fees and Expenses:
After a company has been selected to participate on the mission, a
payment to the Department of Commerce in the form of a participation
fee is required. The fee for participation in the entire mission will
be US$5,400 for large firms and US$3,975 for a small or medium-sized
enterprise (SME), which includes one principal representative.\*\ The
fee for each additional firm representative (large firm or SME) is
$450. Expenses for lodging, some meals, incidentals, and travel (except
for in-country arrangements previously noted) will be the
responsibility of each mission participant.
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* An SME is defined as a firm with 500 or fewer employees or
that otherwise qualifies as a small business under SBA regulations
(see http://www.sba.gov/services/contractingopportunities/sizestandardstopics/index.html). Parent companies, affiliates, and
subsidiaries will be considered when determining business size. The
dual pricing schedule reflects the Commercial Service's user fee
schedule that became effective May 1, 2008 (for additional
information see http://www.export.gov/newsletter/march2008/initiatives.html).
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While priority will be given to firms applying to take part in all
three cities on the mission itinerary, firms may opt to visit only one
or two markets on the itinerary for the following fees:
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Large
Option SME (US$) company
(US$)
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One stop.......................................... 2,000 3,000
Two stops......................................... 3,000 4,000
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Conditions for Participation
An applicant must submit a completed and signed mission
application and supplemental application materials, including adequate
information on the company's products and/or services, primary market
objectives, and goals for participation.
Each applicant must also certify that the products and
services it seeks to export through the mission are either produced in
the United States, or, if not, marketed under the name of a U.S. firm
and have at least fifty-one percent U.S. content.
Selection Criteria for Participation
Selection will be based on the following criteria:
Suitability of the company's products or services to the
three target markets and sectors.
Applicant's potential for business in the target markets,
including likelihood of exports resulting from the mission.
Consistency of the applicant's goals and objectives with
the stated scope of the mission.
Applicant's stated intent to participate in all three
markets on the mission itinerary.
Referrals from political organizations and any documents containing
references to partisan political activities (including political
contributions) will
[[Page 8506]]
be removed from an applicant's submission and not considered during the
selection process.
Timeframe for Recruitment and Applications
Recruitment for this trade mission 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 general and trade media, e-mail blasts, notices by industry
trade associations and other multiplier groups, and publicity at
industry meetings, symposia, conferences, and trade shows. Recruitment
for the mission will begin immediately and conclude no later than
February 27, 2009. Applications received after that date will be
considered only if space and scheduling constraints permit.
Contacts in the United States:
Bill Cline, Director, U.S. Commercial Service, Reno, Team Leader,
Global Environmental Team, U.S. Department of Commerce, Tel:
775.784.5203/Fax: 775.784.5343, Email: [email protected].
Jessica Arnold, Global Environmental Team Project Officer, U.S.
Department of Commerce, Washington, DC 20004, Tel: (202) 482-2026/Fax:
(202) 482-9000, Email: [email protected].
Contacts in Europe:
Milan, Italy: Nicoletta Postiglione, American Consulate General, Tel:
011-39-02-626-8851, Fax: 011-39-02-659-6561, Email:
[email protected].
Zagreb, Croatia: Pamela Ward, American Embassy/Zagreb, Tel: 011-385-1-
661-2224, Fax: 011-385-1-661-2446, Email:
[email protected].
Athens, Greece: William Kutson, U.S. Embassy/Athens, Tel: 30/210/720-
2303/720-2302, Fax: 30/210/721-8660, Email:
[email protected].
Dated: February 18, 2009.
Jessica Arnold,
International Trade Specialist, U.S. Commercial Service, U.S.
Department of Commerce.
[FR Doc. E9-3953 Filed 2-24-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P