[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
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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