[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 36 (Wednesday, February 25, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8508-8510]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-3957]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration


Building for the Future: U.S. Building Products Trade Mission to 
Asia

AGENCY: Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Revision.

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Mission Statement

    Building for the Future: U.S. Building Products Trade Mission to 
Asia. April 20-28, 2009.

Mission Description

    The United States Department of Commerce, International Trade 
Administration, U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service is organizing a 
Trade Mission to Hong Kong, Singapore, and Bangkok, Thailand, April 20-
28, 2009, to promote U.S. firms offering environmentally friendly 
design and engineering services, energy efficient building systems, 
efficient lighting and heating/ventilation/air conditioning (HVAC) 
systems, and eco-friendly building products.
    Growing interest in energy efficiency, environmental protection, 
and ``green'' building are generating significant opportunities in 
these markets for U.S. firms offering innovative products and 
technologies. The mission will include one-on-one business matchmaking 
appointments with prospective agents, distributors, and end-users; 
updates on major projects; Embassy briefings on doing business in each 
country market; and networking receptions.

Commercial Setting

Hong Kong

    In Hong Kong's estimated $24 billion annual construction and 
building sector, usage of eco-friendly and energy-saving products has 
increased in recent years as developers are becoming more concerned 
about their environmental image and seek to attract multinational 
corporate tenants who prefer features that will save energy, reduce 
waste, and increase productivity in their commercial projects.
    Government regulations and incentives play a pivotal role in 
shaping the design of residential buildings in Hong Kong. Government 
incentives to encourage green building and waste reduction include 
exempting green features from the calculation of the gross floor area 
of a property, which grants developers extra floor space to boost the 
market value of their properties.
    In the last five years, growth in demand has been significant for 
environmentally-friendly products such as T5 lamps, variable-speed 
pumps, heat recovery systems in HVAC, service-on-demand features, 
advanced window glazings, and motion sensors. Metal formworks have 
extensively replaced timber. More pre-fabricated elements are used to 
allow cleaner construction sites. Use of photovoltaic panels has also 
increased, particularly in public buildings, although not on a large 
scale. The market for green building products in Hong Kong is far from 
maturity and holds genuine potential.

Singapore

    Singapore's $17 billion construction market is estimated to reach 
$20 billion annually over the next five years. Government spending will 
be the main factor sustaining construction demand, with emphasis on 
infrastructure projects. Singapore's interest in green building 
promises to be substantial. The Government has set aside about $13 
million over the next three years for the Green Mark Incentive Program, 
administered by the Building and Construction Authority (BCA), offering 
cash incentives to private developers and building owners for efforts 
to achieve a BCA Green Mark Gold rating for new or retrofitted 
buildings with a gross floor area exceeding 5,000 square meters. 
Furthermore, under BCA's Green Mark program, the Marina Bay area is to 
serve as a model eco-city, with a new reservoir and gardens, and most 
buildings in the vicinity Green Mark certified. (For details on BCA's 
Green Mark program, see http://www.bca.gov.sg/GreenMark/green_mark_buildings.html).
    Singapore's Housing and Development Board is developing an eco-
precinct in an effort to ensure the sustainability of public housing 
developments. The BCA is also establishing the One North area as a 
model of green facilities for the industrial sector. BCA's Green Mark 
building program is strongly supported by Singapore's National 
Environment Agency, pointing to excellent opportunities for U.S. 
suppliers of green materials and technology. The BCA specifically 
recommends the use of recyclable materials, as well as products and 
systems designed to harness renewable energy (e.g., solar, wind, 
biomass), increase energy efficiency, improve indoor air quality, and 
reduce noise and air pollution.
    Another $34 million has been set-aside to be used within the next 
five years for a new Research Fund for the Built Environment. This Fund 
aims to intensify research and development efforts in green building 
technologies and energy efficiency. Separately, the Singapore Economic 
Development Board is committing $234 million for the green energy push, 
which includes an initiative to make Singapore a testing ground for new 
technologies, such as the latest solar panels or fuel cell engines.
    In all, the market potential in Singapore for technologies, systems 
and equipment used in the construction of environmentally sustainable 
(``green'') buildings is growing. This covers all types of systems and 
products to improve energy and water efficiency of a building, 
technologies and equipment that improve indoor air quality, 
construction systems that reduce noise and air pollution, and 
recyclable building materials.

Thailand

    The United States and Thailand have enjoyed a special commercial 
relationship for 175 years under the Treaty of Amity and Commerce, 
which in most sectors affords U.S. companies operating in Thailand 
national

[[Page 8509]]

treatment, putting them on an ``equal playing field'' with Thai 
companies, a privilege offered to no other trading partner's companies. 
The Thai market offers opportunities for U.S. companies in a number of 
infrastructure sectors, including building and renewable energy.
    The growing necessity for energy conservation in commercial and 
residential buildings is opening doors for ``green'' building products 
in Thailand. As the third largest energy consuming sector, after 
transport and industry, commercial and residential buildings are the 
Thai Government's target sector for implementation of energy 
conservation policies. Last year, the Ministry of Energy, through the 
Department of Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency, introduced 
a program to promote energy efficient buildings. The program provides 
technical assistance in building design and selection of building 
products such as exteriors, insulation, lighting, and HVAC. Qualified 
participants will be publicly endorsed as ``energy efficient.'' Such 
incentives, along with tighter building regulations and greater 
awareness of energy conservation among Thais, will continue to drive 
demand for green products and technologies in the coming years.
    The Thai government's $8.6 billion investment plan for 
infrastructure development over the next five years also offers 
potential for U.S. suppliers of building products and services, 
particularly those offering eco-friendly materials and technologies for 
the construction of rail-based mass transit systems. American building 
products, commanding a reputation for quality and technology, stand 
much to gain from these growing demand trends in Thailand.

Mission Goals

    The Building for the Future Trade Mission will help U.S. firms to 
explore supplier opportunities under various infrastructure programs 
and initiate or expand their exports to the three markets through 
business-to-business introductions, market briefings, and networking 
activities.

Mission Scenario

    The mission will stop in Hong Kong, Singapore and Bangkok, 
Thailand. In each city, participants will meet with government 
officials, potential buyers, agents/distributors, and other business 
partners. They will also attend market briefings by U.S. Embassy 
officials, as well as networking events offering further opportunities 
to speak with local business and industry decision-makers.

Proposed Mission Timetable

 
April 20, 2009............................  Mission begins in Hong Kong.
                                            Market briefing.
                                            Business matchmaking.
                                            Networking reception.
April 20-21, 2009.........................  Business matchmaking.
April 22, 2009............................  Travel to Bangkok, Thailand.
                                            Networking reception.
April 23-24, 2009.........................  Market Briefing.
                                            Business matchmaking.
April 25 or 26, 2009......................  Travel to Singapore on
                                             weekend.
April 27-28, 2009.........................  Briefing.
                                            Business matchmaking.
                                            Networking reception.
                                            Mission concludes.
 

Participation Requirements

    All parties interested in participating in the Building for the 
Future Trade Mission must complete and submit an application package 
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. A minimum of 7 and maximum of 
15 companies will be selected to participate in the mission from the 
applicant pool. U.S. companies already doing business in the target 
markets as well as U.S. companies seeking to enter the target markets 
for the first time may apply.

Fees and Expenses

    After a company has been selected to participate in the mission, a 
payment to the Department of Commerce in the form of a participation 
fee is required. The participation fee will be $5,785 for a large firm 
and $3,975 for a small or medium-sized enterprise (SME).\*\ The fee for 
each additional firm representative (large firm or SME) is $450. 
Expenses for travel, lodging, most meals, and incidentals will be the 
responsibility of each mission participant. The option to participate 
in the mission is also being offered to U.S.-based firms with an 
established presence in the target markets or neighboring countries; 
the same fee structure applies.
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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/contracting_opportunities/sizestandardstopics/index.html). Parent companies, affiliates, and 
subsidiaries will be considered when determining business size. The 
dual pricing reflects the Commercial Service's user fee schedule 
that became effective May 1, 2008 (see http://www.export.gov/newsletter/march2008/initiatives.html for additional information).
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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. If the Department of Commerce 
receives an incomplete application, the Department may reject the 
application, request additional information, or take the lack of 
information into account when evaluating the applications.
     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 51 percent U.S. content of the value of the finished 
product or service.
    Selection Criteria: Selection will be based on the following 
criteria:
     Suitability of the company's products or services in the 
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 trade mission.

Referrals from political organizations and any documents containing 
references to partisan political activities (including political 
contributions) will be removed from an applicant's submission and not 
considered during the selection process.

Timeframe for Recruitment and Applications

    Mission recruitment will be conducted in an open and public manner. 
Outreach will include 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, direct mail, broadcast fax, notices by 
industry trade associations and other multiplier groups, and publicity 
at industry meetings, symposia, conferences, and trade shows. The 
International Trade Administration will explore and welcome outreach 
assistance from other interested organizations, including other U.S. 
Government agencies.

[[Page 8510]]

    Recruitment for the mission will begin immediately and close March 
4, 2009. Applications are available on-line on the mission Web site at 
http://www.buyusa.gov/globaldesignbuild/futurebuildmission.html. They 
can also be obtained by contacting the Mission Project Officer listed 
below. Applications received after March 4, 2009 will be considered 
only if space and scheduling constraints permit.

Contacts

Sean Timmins, Global Trade Programs, Commercial Service Trade Missions 
Program, Tel: 202-482-1841, E-mail: [email protected].
Terri Batch, International Trade Specialist, Global Design Build Team 
Leader, Tel: 310-882-1750, E-mail: [email protected].

Sean Timmins,
Global Trade Programs, Commercial Service Trade Missions Program.
[FR Doc. E9-3957 Filed 2-24-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P