[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 156 (Friday, August 14, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41125-41127]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-19565]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration


Medical Trade Mission to India

AGENCY: International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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Mission Description

    The United States Department of Commerce, International Trade 
Administration, U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service is organizing a 
Medical Trade Mission to New Delhi, Chennai and Mumbai, India, March 8-
13, 2010. The Medical Trade Mission to India will include 
representatives of U.S. medical/healthcare industry manufacturers 
(equipment and devices including laboratory, emergency, diagnostic, 
physiotherapy, and orthopedic equipment, and healthcare information 
technology) and service providers. The mission will introduce U.S. 
suppliers to prospective end-users and partners whose needs and 
capabilities are targeted to each U.S. participant's business 
objectives. The delegates will meet with Indian government officials to 
obtain first-hand information about regulations, policies and 
procedures and will visit healthcare facilities. The Commercial Service 
in India (CS India) will organize appointments and briefings in New 
Delhi, Chennai and Mumbai, India's major healthcare industry hubs. U.S. 
participants will have the opportunity to interact with U.S. Embassy 
and Consulate officials and CS India healthcare specialists to discuss 
industry developments, opportunities, and marketing strategies.
    Medical Fair India, one of the largest medical tradeshows in India, 
coincides in time and location with the last stop of the Trade Mission. 
Trade Mission participants, therefore, can exhibit at the tradeshow, in 
the U.S. Pavilion, as part of their program. Companies wishing to 
exhibit in the U.S. pavilion at the Medical Fair can register through 
the CS India office to receive a discount.

Commercial Setting

    The Indian healthcare industry is experiencing a rapid 
transformation and is emerging as a promising market for U.S. suppliers 
of high-end products. The Indian healthcare market, currently at $35 
billion annually, is expected to reach more than $75 billion annually 
by 2012. The growth in affluence of more than 300 million middle-income 
consumers is creating demand for higher standards of healthcare. The 
changing demographic profile and the rise of lifestyle-related diseases 
have altered the health seeking behavior of the consumer. While private 
insurance covers only 10% of the population, coverage is growing at 40% 
per year.
    The medical infrastructure in India is insufficient for the 
population, with demand for hospitals and beds far exceeding supply. 
The problem is acute in rural India, which accounts for over half of 
India's population, while about 80 percent of available hospital beds 
are located in the urban centers. Both government and private operators 
have major expansion plans to meet demand and increase quality. 
Healthcare in India is provided through primary care facilities and 
secondary and tertiary care hospitals. While the public sector provides 
primary and secondary care, tertiary care hospitals are owned and 
managed by both government and private sector. Over the next 5-6 years, 
150-200 tertiary hospital projects are expected to be constructed, 
including hospitals of varying capacities. Most Indian healthcare 
facilities use imported medical equipment for diagnosis, treatment and 
surgery with over 35% of the imports coming from the U.S. New specialty 
and super-specialty hospitals depend on the import of high-end medical 
equipment for over 65 percent

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of their needs, and this sector is growing at a rate of 15 percent 
annually.
    Medical tourism is one of the major external drivers of growth in 
India's healthcare sector. India treated 450,000 foreign patients in 
2007 and the expected increase in this sector is contributing to 
improved quality controls. India's National Accreditation Board for 
Hospitals (NABH) operates accreditation programs for healthcare 
organizations. Some private hospitals are also applying for 
certification from international accreditation organizations such as 
the Joint Commission International (JCI). Accreditation by NABH and JCI 
has ensured better standards of healthcare in hospitals.

Mission Goals

    The goal of the Medical Trade Mission to India is to (1) 
familiarize the U.S. companies with the current healthcare situation as 
well as the developments taking place; (2) introduce U.S. companies to 
appropriate government officials in India to learn about various 
regulatory procedure and policies; and (3) introduce companies to 
potential end-users, representatives and partners.

Mission Scenario

    The first stop on the mission itinerary is New Delhi, the capital. 
In meetings with representatives of the Ministry of Health, Drug 
Controller General Office, and Department of Pharmaceuticals, the U.S. 
mission members will learn about policies, regulations and 
opportunities in the country's healthcare industry, such as expansion 
plans of the Fortis and Max hospital groups.
    Chennai and Mumbai are the second and third stops of the mission, 
located in southern and western India respectively. Several corporate 
hospital chains have their headquarters in these cities. These include 
the Apollo Group in Chennai, and Wockhard and the Tata Institute of 
Fundamental Research in Mumbai.
    The three cities on the mission itinerary are the regional hubs for 
the Indian medical/healthcare industry. End-users often prefer to be 
serviced by regional distributors/agents based in these cities, rather 
than country-wide distributors. In all three cities the delegates will 
attend U.S. Embassy or Consulate industry briefings and take part in 
networking events and business matchmaking appointments.
    Participation in the mission will include the following:
     Pre-travel briefings/webinars on subjects including 
business practices in India and specifics on the medical/healthcare 
industry;
     Embassy/Consulate briefings on the business climate, 
political scenario, and medical/healthcare industry in New Delhi, 
Chennai and Mumbai;
     Pre-scheduled meetings with potential partners, 
distributors, end-users, or local industry contacts in New Delhi, 
Chennai and Mumbai;
     Meetings with Indian Government officials;
     Tour of public and private hospitals and interaction with 
senior hospital staff;
     Networking receptions in three cities of the trade 
mission;
     Built-up 9-sq meter exhibitor booth* in the U.S. Pavilion 
at Medical Fair India, Mumbai.
    (Option two only) *Contact us for price of booth.

Proposed Mission Timetable

    Mission participants will be encouraged to arrive Saturday, March 
6, 2010 to allow time to adjust to their new surroundings before the 
mission program begins on Monday, March 8.

Monday, March 8......................  New Delhi
                                       Embassy briefing by U.S.
                                        Departments of Commerce and
                                        State.
                                       Meetings with Government of India
                                        ministries.
                                       One-on-one business appointments.
                                       Evening: Networking reception.
Tuesday, March 9.....................  New Delhi/Chennai
                                       Industry briefing.
                                       One-on-one business appointments.
                                       Hospital or other site visit.
                                       Check-out of the hotel.
                                       Evening flight to Chennai.
Wednesday, March 10..................  Chennai
                                       Breakfast briefing by the U.S.
                                        Commercial Service at hotel.
                                       Hospital visit and meeting with
                                        senior management, including the
                                        procurement executives.
                                       One-on-one business appointments.
                                       Evening: Networking reception.
Thursday, March 11...................  Chennai/Mumbai
                                       One-on-one business appointments.
                                       Check-out of the hotel.
                                       Afternoon flight to Mumbai.
Friday, March 12.....................  Mumbai
                                       Breakfast briefing by the U.S.
                                        Commercial Service at hotel.
                                       One-on-one business appointments
                                        or exhibition at Medical Fair
                                        India.
                                       Evening: Networking reception.
Saturday, March 13...................  Mumbai
                                       Hospital chain visit and meeting
                                        with senior management.
                                       Medical Fair India 2010.
                                       Evening: Check-out of the hotel
                                        or remain in Mumbai for Medical
                                        Fair India.
                                       Depart for Mumbai International
                                        airport for onward travel.
 

Participation Requirements

    All parties interested in participating in the Medical Trade 
Mission to India 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 is open on a 
first come first served basis to 15 qualified U.S. companies. 
Additional applications will be considered as time and space permit.

Fees and Expenses

    After a company has been selected to participate on the mission, a 
payment to

[[Page 41127]]

the Department of Commerce in the form of a participation fee is 
required. The participation fees reflect two options:
    Option 1: March 8-13, 2010. Participation in the Trade Mission in 
all three cities: New Delhi, Chennai, and Mumbai. The participation fee 
will be $4,600 for large firms and $3,900 for a small or medium-sized 
enterprise (SME),* this includes one principal representative. The fee 
for each additional firm representative (large firm or SME) is $500.
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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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    Option 2: March 8-11, 2010 participate in the Trade Mission in two 
cities: New Delhi and Chennai and March 12-14, exhibit at the Medical 
Fair India 2010 in Mumbai. The participation fee for New Delhi-Chennai 
and exhibiting in the Fair in Mumbai $6,800 ($3,600 Trade Mission fee + 
$3,200 for 9-sq meter booth space**) for large firms and $6,100 ($2,900 
Trade Mission fee + $3,200 for 9-sq meter booth space) for an SME,* 
which includes one principal representative. The fee for each 
additional firm representative (large firm or SME) is $250.
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    \**\ Minimum booth space is 9-sq meters. Companies can take 
larger space for which cost will be calculated accordingly.
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    Expenses for lodging, some meals, incidentals, and travel (except 
for transportation to and from meetings) will be the responsibility of 
each mission participant.

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 a company's products or services to the 
mission's goals.
     Applicant's potential for business in India, including 
likelihood of exports resulting from the trade mission.
     Consistency of the applicant's goals and objectives with 
the stated scope of the trade mission.
    Any partisan political activities (including political 
contributions) of an applicant are entirely irrelevant to the selection 
process.

Timeframe for Recruitment and Applications

    Mission recruitment will be conducted in an open and public manner, 
including posting in the Federal Register, 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; 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 January 8, 2010.

Contacts

U.S. Commercial Service; Healthcare Team

    Ms. Jetta DeNend, International Trade Specialist, U.S. Commercial 
Service, 33 Whitehall St. 22nd Floor, New York, NY 10004. Ph: 212-809-
2644/Fax: 212-809-268. E-mail: [email protected].

U.S. Commercial Service in India

    Mr. Srimoti Mukherji, U.S. Commercial Service, New Delhi. Ph: 91-
11-23472000, ext 2226. Fax: 91-11-23315172. 
[email protected].

Lisa Huot,
Global Trade Programs, Commercial Service Trade Missions Program.
[FR Doc. E9-19565 Filed 8-13-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P