[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 98 (Friday, May 21, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28555-28557]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-12207]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration


Executive Green ICT & Energy Efficiency Trade Mission to Mexico 
City, Mexico

AGENCY: International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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Mission Description

    The United States Department of Commerce, International Trade 
Administration, and U.S. & Foreign Commercial Service are organizing an 
Executive Green ICT & Energy Efficiency Trade Mission to Mexico City 
from September 27-29, 2010. This Executive led mission will focus on 
assisting U.S. providers of ``Green Information & Communication 
Technology (ICT)'' solutions, as well as energy efficiency technologies 
to enter or increase their presence in various sectors of the Mexican 
market. This will include data centers, telecommunications, utilities, 
and construction. Green ICTs--or smart technologies--provide 
monitoring, supervision and automation capabilities to reach energy 
efficiency in the mentioned industries, such as smart grids and smart 
buildings. The mission will support U.S. delegates to gain market 
insight, local private and public contacts, and identify potential 
business opportunities and partners. In addition to the welcome 
reception and Matchmaking Services, a 1-day Green ICT & Energy 
Efficiency conference will take place at the World Trade Center in 
Mexico City. Relevant issues on energy efficiency in data centers, 
smart grids, and green buildings will be discussed. Mission delegates 
will have an opportunity to exhibit outside of the conference hall 
during this event.
    Furthermore, this mission will take place during the same days as 
The Green Expo at the World Trade Center in Mexico City. As a separate 
activity and independent of the mission, delegates will be granted a 
discount by EJ Krause, organizer of The Green Expo, to exhibit at the 
show in the USA Pavilion.

Commercial Setting

    On August 10, 2009 during the North American Leaders Summit, 
Presidents Obama and Calder[oacute]n committed their two countries to 
work together on environmental cooperation, sustainable development, 
and clean energy research, development, and deployment issues.
    President Felipe Calderon in his 2007 National Strategy on Climate 
Change recognized the importance and need for environmentally friendly 
policies and solutions within Mexico and set a target of reducing 107 
million tons of green house gases (GHG) by 2014 in the energy sector 
alone. Mexico currently has several green friendly projects funded by 
the World Bank, including wind technologies, waste management, 
renewable energy development projects, modernization of the water and 
sanitation sectors, and a hybrid solar thermal power plant. With a 
demonstrated interest in expanding environmentally friendly projects 
and policies, Mexico provides a growing market for green technologies.
    The Information and Communications Technology industry (ICT), which 
includes telecom service operators (fixed, wireless, cable, Internet, 
etc.) as well as IT service and management firms, integrators, software 
developers, and equipment manufacturers, have a fundamental role in 
reducing the negative environmental impact of emissions.
    ICT has increased productivity and competitiveness, and supported 
economic growth around the world. Today, ICT is an important supporter 
of a sustainable environment by becoming an enabler of energy 
efficiencies in multiple industrial sectors, particularly

[[Page 28556]]

in power transmission and distribution, manufacturing, construction, 
and transportation emissions. Furthermore, the ICT sector has its own 
energy efficiency challenges to overcome, such as to reduce energy 
consumption in enterprise IT and Data Center operations.

Mission Goals

    The goals of the Green ICT and Energy Efficiency Trade Mission to 
Mexico City are to (1) create business, networking, and exhibition 
opportunities for participating companies, and create awareness in 
Mexico of the U.S. green information technology and energy efficiency 
technologies available; (2) provide information and energy efficiency 
solutions for the Mexican Government, public utility company, 
construction sector, and IT companies and telecommunication operators 
by highlighting U.S. company solutions; (3) showcase ICT sustainable 
environment and energy efficiency solutions for different industry 
sectors to improve monitoring and supervision.

Mission Scenario

    The Green ICT and Energy Efficiency Trade Mission will promote and 
showcase mission delegates at different levels. They will be able to 
attend and exhibit in a specialized conference. Additionally, they will 
have the opportunity to formally exhibit in the USA Pavilion during The 
Green Expo. Finally, delegates will have various opportunities for high 
level matchmaking and networking with Mexican companies, government, 
organizations and specialists.
    The mission will have the following components:
     Networking and Welcome Reception. September 27--7 p.m.-
9:30 p.m. A networking reception will be held the evening before the 
Green ICT and Energy Efficiency Conference. Attendees will include 
mission members, U.S. Government officials, Government of Mexico 
officials, speakers and sponsors. The venue will be the Ambassador's 
Residence.
     Green ICT and Energy Efficiency Conference. September 28--
8 a.m.-6 p.m. There will be 8 keynote speakers discussing key issues of 
Green ICT and Energy Efficiency solutions in three sectors: 
Telecommunications, electric grid, and construction. The speakers will 
be any or a combination of the following: Industry, sponsors, USG, and 
GOM officials. The focus will be on U.S. products/solutions and their 
application to Mexico.
     Exhibition. September 28--8 a.m.-6 p.m. Mission members 
can exhibit products and services on tabletop displays outside of the 
conference hall.
     Matchmaking. September 29--8 a.m.-6 p.m. Pre-screened one-
on-one appointments will be arranged in Mexico City.
     The Green Expo Trade Show. September 28-30. CS Mexico will 
host a USA Pavilion for companies providing environmental solutions, 
such as water, alternative energy, etc. EJ Krause will grant a discount 
to those mission members that would like to exhibit at the pavilion 
during their visit to Mexico City.

Proposed Mission Timetable

    Mission participants will be encouraged to arrive no later than 
early afternoon Monday, September 27 in order to participate in the 
evening networking and welcome reception.

Monday, Sept. 27.................  6:30 p.m.-7 p.m. Trade Mission
                                    briefing in hotel.
                                   7:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. Networking
                                    Reception, Ambassador's Residence.
Tuesday, Sept. 28................  Mexico City........................
                                   8 a.m.-6 p.m. Green ICT and Energy
                                    Efficiency Conference, Room Olmeca
                                    3, WTC Mexico City.
Wednesday, Sept. 29..............  Mexico City........................
                                   8 a.m.-6 p.m. Gold Key
                                    Appointments, Mexico City.
                                   End Mission........................
 

Participation Requirements

    All parties interested in participating in the Executive Green ICT 
and Energy Efficiency 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 fifteen U.S. companies and maximum of twenty-five U.S. 
companies will be selected to participate in the mission from the 
applicant pool. The Executive Green ICT and Energy Efficiency Trade 
Mission will seek to recruit U.S. IT small and medium size companies 
that provide products, solutions, technologies, and ``know-how'' aimed 
at efficient energy use in the telecom, energy and construction 
sectors.

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 $2,900 for large firms 
and $2,450 for a small or medium-sized enterprise (SME).\1\ The fee 
includes participation of two company representatives; the fee for each 
additional firm representative (large firm or SME) is $500. Expenses 
for travel, transportation, lodging, most meals, and incidentals will 
be the responsibility of each mission participant.
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    \1\ 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).
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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 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 Mexico, 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.
    Referrals from political organizations and any documents containing 
references to partisan political activities (including political 
contributions) will be removed from an applicant's

[[Page 28557]]

submission and not considered during the selection process.

Timeframe for Recruitment and Applications

    Mission recruitment will be conducted in an open and public manner, 
including publication in the Federal Register, posting on the Commerce 
Department trade mission calendar (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 August 2, 2010. Applications 
received after that date will be considered only if space and 
scheduling constraints permit.

Contacts

    U.S. Commercial Service in Mexico City:

Aliza Totayo, Commercial Officer, T: +52 (55) 5140-2635, 
[email protected];
Juan Carlos Prieto, Commercial Specialist, T: +52 (55) 5140-2634, 
[email protected].

Natalia Susak,
Global Trade Programs, Commercial Service Trade Missions Program.
[FR Doc. 2010-12207 Filed 5-20-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-FP-P