[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 215 (Monday, November 8, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68600-68603]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-28148]


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 Department of Commerce


Secretarial India High Technology Business Development Mission; 
February 6-11, 2011

AGENCY: International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.
SUMMARY: Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke will lead a senior-level 
business development trade mission to New Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore, 
India, February 6-11, 2011. The overall focus of the trip will be 
commercial opportunities for U.S. companies, including joint ventures 
and export opportunities. In each city participants will have a market 
briefings followed by one-on-one appointments with potential buyers/
partners and meetings with high level government officials.

DATES: Applications should be submitted to the Office of Business 
Liaison by November 30, 2010. Applications received after that date 
will be considered only if space and scheduling constraints permit.
    Contact: Office of Business Liaison; Room 5062; Department of 
Commerce; Washington, DC 20230; Tel: (202) 482-1360; Fax: (202) 482-
4054

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Mission Description: U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke will 
lead a senior-level U.S. business development mission to Delhi, Mumbai, 
and Bangalore from February 6-11, 2011 to discuss market development 
policies and promote U.S. exports in the following advanced industrial 
sectors: The civil nuclear, defense and security, civil aviation, and 
information and communications technology (ICT).
    The mission will help U.S. companies already doing business in 
India increase their current level of exports and business interests, 
and it will focus on helping experienced U.S. exporters which have not 
yet done business in India enter the market in support of creating jobs 
in the United States. Participating firms will gain market information, 
make business and government contacts, solidify business strategies, 
and/or advance specific projects. In each of these important sectors, 
participating U.S. companies will meet with prescreened potential 
partners, agents, distributors, representatives, and licensees. The 
agenda will also include meetings with high-level national and local 
government officials, networking opportunities, country briefings, and 
seminars.
    The delegation will be composed of 20-25 U.S. firms representing a 
cross-section of U.S. high technology industries. Representatives of 
the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA), the Export-Import Bank 
of the United States (Ex-Im) and the Overseas Private Investment 
Corporation (OPIC) will be invited to participate (as appropriate) to 
provide information and counseling on their programs, as they relate to 
the Indian market.
    Commercial Setting: India's sustained economic growth of around 5.5 
percent in 2009 and dynamic expansion in several of its regional 
markets has created wide and diverse business prospects for U.S. 
exporters and investors. With 2010 growth estimates hovering at about 
9.7 percent, India remains one of the fastest growing, largest, and 
most dynamic economies in the world. The global economic downturn did 
not affect India to the same extent as the United States, though most 
Indian companies remain cautious about making large investments. 
Worldwide economic difficulties notwithstanding, U.S. multinationals 
are expanding and deepening their market penetration. U.S. firms with 
advanced and niche-market products and services are entering the market 
for the first time, or are replacing legacy distributors appointed in 
the slow-growth past with more capable and aggressive representatives. 
The recent rise of U.S. exports to India, the daily business press 
announcements, and the rapidly expanding demand for Commercial Service 
India matchmaking programs and due-diligence services all point to 
India being open for business.
    In fact, the pace of the United States' trade and investment 
relationship with India is accelerating. In 2009, U.S. exports to India 
amounted to $16.4 billion. Advanced technologies, including aerospace, 
specialized materials, information and communications technologies, 
electronics and flexible manufacturing systems underpinned this growth. 
U.S. exports to India are up 24 percent through the first six months of 
2010. India is expected to play a major role in the Obama 
Administration's National Export Initiative (NEI), which aims to double 
U.S. exports over the next five years. Commercial Service India, with 
its seven offices across India, is actively implementing the NEI on the 
ground and will assist U.S. firms across a range of sectors including, 
but not limited to civil nuclear energy, defense, civil aviation, 
defense and security, and ICT.
    In terms of long-range economic forecasts, some major consulting 
companies project that more than 500 million people, a full 50 percent 
of the population, will enter India's middle class over the next 15 
years. One noted firm expects India to have and sustain the fastest 
growing economy in the world in the next three to five years. Another 
well-known consultancy believes that India will become the 3rd largest 
economy in the world by 2032. India's ``demographic dividend'' (71 
percent of the population is under the age of 35, and the median age is 
25) will ensure that India retains strong production and knowledge-
based competitiveness for many years to come. India necessitates 
multiple marketing efforts that address differing regional 
opportunities, standards, languages, cultural differences, and levels 
of economic development. Gaining access to India's markets requires 
careful analysis of consumer preferences, existing sales channels, and 
changes in distribution and marketing practices, all of which are 
continually evolving.
    Industry Focus: The mission will focus on four industry sectors--
civil nuclear, defense and security equipment/systems/services, civil 
aviation, and ICT. It is designed to take advantage of these four 
strategic growth sectors and advance the discussion of U.S. market 
access, regulatory, and export control issues.
    Civil Nuclear: This mission would represent the first Department-
led civil-nuclear event in five years to India. Industry assessments 
suggest the Indian nuclear power market in total is worth as much as 
$150 billion. In September 2009, the Government of India (GOI) 
officially designated two site locations for U.S. commercial nuclear 
technology. The Indian cabinet reserved sites at Mithi Virdi in Gujarat 
and at Kovada in Andhra Pradesh to host the U.S. ``reactor parks.'' The 
U.S. government has worked closely with the GOI to implement the U.S.-
India nuclear cooperation agreement. U.S. reactor companies are on 
track to do business in India's expanding civil nuclear sector which 
provides opportunities along the civil nuclear supply chain for small- 
and medium-size civil nuclear suppliers.
    Defense and Security: Over the next three years, India is expected 
to procure more than $10 billion in state-of-the-art commercial and 
homeland security

[[Page 68601]]

technology products, solutions, and services for border protection, 
marine security, counter insurgency, city surveillance, intelligence 
infrastructure, and other critical security infrastructure needs. The 
United States and India are closely collaborating on homeland security 
through our five-pillared Strategic Dialogue and a Joint Working Group 
on Counter-Terrorism (CTJWG). This homeland security component of the 
CTJWG offers us a unique opportunity to integrate U.S. business into 
the bilateral partnership with India by creating a private sector-
public sector advisory forum within the government-to-government CTJWG. 
It will focus on translating the policy cooperation and goodwill 
between the two countries into business opportunities and export growth 
for U.S. companies.
    Civil Aviation: Currently ranked ninth in the global civil aviation 
market, India's rapidly growing aviation sector is expected to become 
one of the top five civil aviation markets in the world over the next 
five years. Domestic passenger travel grew by 22 percent to 25.7 
million passengers between January-June 2010 compared with 21.1 million 
passengers in January-June 2009, with private airlines accounting for 
about 75 percent of the domestic aviation market. Both Boeing and 
Airbus forecast India's demand for aircraft to exceed 1,000 aircraft 
worth more than $130 billion over the next 20 years. To keep pace with 
this rapid expansion, the GOI is planning multibillion dollar 
infrastructure investments to handle an estimated 580 million 
passengers in the next five to seven years.
    Cooperation between the U.S. and Indian Governments in civil 
aviation has grown steadily since the signing of the U.S.-India Open 
Skies Agreement in 2005. With the launch of the U.S.-India Aviation 
Cooperation Program (ACP) in 2007, the United States and India 
established a forum for unified communication between the GOI and U.S. 
public and private sectors active in India with the goal of 
identification and support of the GOI's civil aviation sector 
modernization priorities. Early in 2010, the GOI and the United States 
created the U.S.-India Aviation Security Working Group to increase 
close cooperation on mutual commercial and security interest. In March, 
2010, the inaugural meeting of the U.S.-India High Technology 
Cooperation Group (HTCG) Civil Aviation Subcommittee was held in 
Washington, DC. Among the most important areas of agreement coming from 
the group's private sector and government-government sessions were 
formation of an Airport Infrastructure Working Group (AIWG) tasked with 
identifying ways to encourage increased U.S. private sector 
participation in India's airport development; agreement to increase 
information exchange on air traffic control (ATC) technology enabling 
modernization of India's ATC system; consideration of a civil aviation 
business development trade mission to India; and collaboration on the 
development of alternative aviation fuels. The inaugural meeting of the 
AIWG held on September 30 in New Delhi directly addressed the issue of 
facilitating U.S. private sector investment in India's $20 billion 
dollar civil airport infrastructure development market.
    Information and Communications Technology: As part of India's 
economic transformation, ICT represents about 11 percent of India's 
GDP. Telecom is considered the fastest growing sector, with cellular 
connections that have surpassed 600 million (with an expectation of 
reaching 1 billion by 2015). Internet and broadband infrastructure 
plans are bold and are based on rapid growth projections. In the next 
five years, the Indian market will reach 500 million fixed-wire line 
Internet connections, with fixed broadband comprising 200 million of 
the connections. The rapid growth of India's ICT industry is generating 
massive, untapped opportunities for U.S. companies. India's software 
and services industry accounted for $59.6B in aggregated revenue in 
FY2008-09, and spending in these sectors is forecast to grow at over 17 
percent year on year between 2010 and 2014.
    Mission Stops:
    New Delhi: New Delhi, India's capital, serves as the seat of the 
GOI and the government of the National Capital Territory of New Delhi. 
The city is known for its wide, tree-lined boulevards and is home to 
numerous national institutions and landmarks. The city's service sector 
has expanded due in part to the large skilled English-speaking 
workforce that has attracted many multinational companies. Key service 
industries include information technology, telecommunications, hotels, 
banking, media and tourism. Most U.S. companies, with offices in India, 
are either headquartered in New Delhi or have an active office in this 
city. U.S. trade associations such as the American Chamber of Commerce 
and the U.S. India Business Council and Indian trade associations, 
representing thousands of Indian companies, such as Confederation of 
Indian Industry (CII) and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and 
Industry (FICCI) are also headquartered in New Delhi.
    Bangalore: Bangalore, known as India's Silicon Valley, is renowned 
as India's hub for the aerospace/defense, IT and semiconductor sectors. 
The city also boasts the largest cluster of firms operating in the 
biotechnology sector. Many high tech U.S. companies such as Cisco, 
Intel, Motorola, and Texas Instruments, have their India headquarters 
in Bangalore. Additionally, some of India's leading companies and 
entrepreneurs, including members of the U.S.-India CEO Forum, are based 
in this city. As it is among the most cosmopolitan and well known 
cities in India, Bangalore is a leading destination for U.S. companies 
coming to India for the first time. The Mission will also overlap with 
the Aero India 2011 trade show in Bangalore. Aero India is organized by 
the Ministry of Defense of India and will include a large U.S. 
pavilion. The U.S. Department of Defense will also be participating in 
this show.
    Mumbai: Mumbai, located in the state of Maharashtra, is the 
commercial and financial center of India. Mumbai is India's largest 
city and home to almost 20 million people, and many of India's 
industrial powerhouses are headquartered in the city, including Tata, 
Reliance, and Mahindra. Mumbai is also at the center of India's civil 
nuclear industry and U.S. nuclear firms are eagerly eyeing the Indian 
market. The region surrounding Mumbai has emerged as an industrial hub 
and several major U.S. corporations across a wide variety of sectors 
have established a presence in the region, including General Motors, 
Kellogg and John Deere. It is not an exaggeration to say that Mumbai is 
truly the Gateway of India, and U.S. firms interested in doing business 
in India should make a point to visit this city.
    Mission Goals: This Business Development Mission to India will 
demonstrate the United States commitment to a sustained economic 
partnership with India. The mission will combine Secretarial level 
policy dialogue and business development for U.S. firms. The mission's 
purpose is to support participants as they construct a firm foundation 
for future business in India and specifically aims to:
     Assist in identifying potential partners and strategies 
for U.S. companies to gain access to the Indian market for high 
technology products and services.
     Provide an opportunity for participant's to be present for 
policy and regulatory framework discussions with India government 
officials and private sector representatives to advance U.S. market 
access interests in India.

[[Page 68602]]

     Confirm U.S. Government support for activities of U.S. 
business in India and to provide access to senior Indian government 
decision makers.
     Listen to the needs, suggestions and experience of 
individual participants so as to shape appropriate U.S. Government 
positions regarding India and U.S. business interests.
     Organize private and focused events with local business 
and association leaders capable of becoming partners and clients for 
U.S. firms as they develop their business in India.
     Assist development of competitive strategies and market 
access with high level information gathering from private and public-
sector leaders.
    Mission Scenario: During the High Technology Business Development 
Mission to India the participants will:
     Meet with high-level Indian government officials.
     Meet with prescreened potential partners, agents, 
distributors, representatives and licensees.
     Meet with representatives of the Chambers of Commerce, 
industry and trade associations.
     Attend briefings conducted by Embassy officials on the 
economic and commercial climates.
    Receptions and other business events will be organized to provide 
mission participants with further opportunities to speak with local 
business and government representatives, as well as U.S. business 
executives living and working in the region.
    Timetable:

New Delhi

Sunday-February 6
     Arrive New Delhi.
     Orientation/Briefing from U.S. Government trade finance 
agencies.
     Economic/Market Briefing by U.S. Embassy Officials.
     Welcome Dinner.
Monday-February 7
     Business Event/Briefing with Local Industry 
Representatives.
     High-level Government Meetings and Roundtables for 
Delegates.
     One-on-One Business Meetings for the Delegation.
     Reception Hosted by the U.S. Ambassador.
Tuesday-February 8
     One-on-One Business Meetings for the Delegation.
     Government and Industry Meetings.
     Late Afternoon Departure for Bangalore.

Bangalore

Wed.-February 9
     Meetings with Local Government Officials.
     Business Event/Briefing with Local Industry 
Representatives.
     One-on-One Business Meetings for the Delegation.
     Site Visit to U.S. Export-related Venture.
Thursday-February 10
     Morning Departure for Mumbai.

Mumbai

Thursday-February 10
     Arrive Mumbai.
     Economic/Market Briefing by U.S. Government Officials.
     Meetings with Local Government Officials.
     Business Event/Briefing with Local Industry 
Representatives.
     Reception Hosted by U.S. Consul General.
Friday-February 11
     One-on-One Business Meetings for the Delegation.
     Meetings with Senior Indian Industry and Government 
Officials.
     Closing Dinner.
     Mission Ends/Departure.
    Participation Requirements: All parties interested in participating 
in the Secretarial India High Technology Business Development Mission 
must complete and submit an application package for consideration by 
the U.S. Department of Commerce. All applicants will be evaluated on 
their ability to meet certain conditions and best satisfy the selection 
criteria as outlined below. Approximately 20-25 companies will be 
selected from the applicant pool to participate in the mission.
    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, based on 20 
companies, will be $10,500 for large firms and $8,500 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 $2,500.
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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/contracting opportunities/
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 (see http://www.export.gov/newsletter/march2008/initiatives.html for additional 
information).
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    Expenses for travel, lodging, some meals, and incidentals 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. If 
the Office of Business Liaison receives an incomplete application, the 
Department of Commerce may either: Reject the application, request 
additional information/clarification, 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 fifty-one 
percent U.S. content. In cases where the U.S. content does not exceed 
fifty percent, especially where the applicant intends to pursue 
investment and major project opportunities, the following factors, 
often associated with U.S. ownership, may be considered in determining 
whether the applicant's participation in the trade mission is in the 
U.S. national interest:
     U.S. materials and equipment content;
     U.S. labor content;
     Repatriation of profits to the U.S. economy; and/or
     Potential for follow-on business that would benefit the 
U.S. economy;
     Certify that the export of the products and services that 
it wishes to export through the mission would be in compliance with 
U.S. export controls and regulations;
     Certify that it has identified to the Department of 
Commerce for its evaluation any business pending before the Department 
of Commerce that may present the appearance of a conflict of interest;
     Certify that it has identified any pending litigation 
(including any administrative proceedings) to which it is a party that 
involves the Department of Commerce; and
     Sign and submit an agreement that it and its affiliates 
(1) have not and will not engage in the bribery of foreign officials in 
connection with a company's/participant's involvement in this mission, 
and (2) maintain and enforce a policy that prohibits the bribery of 
foreign officials.
    Selection Criteria for Participation: Selection will be based on 
the following criteria in decreasing order of importance:
     Consistency of company's products or services with the 
scope and desired outcome of the mission's goals;
     Suitability of a company's products or services to the 
Indian market and the

[[Page 68603]]

likelihood of a participating company's increased exports to or 
business interests in India as a result of this mission;
     Demonstrated export experience in India and/or other 
foreign markets;
     Prior experience in public discussions, such as through 
conferences, business organizations, public/private entities, or 
academic fora, on policy issues related to market access for U.S. firms 
in India;
     Current or pending major project participation; and
     Rank/seniority of the designated company representative.
    Additional factors, such as diversity of company size, type, 
location, and demographics, may also be considered during the review 
process.
    Referrals from political organizations and any documents, including 
the application, 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, 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, direct 
mail, broadcast fax, notices by industry trade associations and other 
multiplier groups, and publicity at industry meetings, symposia, 
conferences, and trade shows. The Commerce Department's Office of 
Business Liaison and the International Trade Administration will 
explore and welcome outreach assistance from other interested 
organizations, including other U.S. Government agencies.
    Recruitment for this mission will begin immediately upon approval. 
Applications can be completed on-line at the India High Technology 
Business Development Mission Web site at http://www.trade.gov/IndiaMission2011 or can be obtained by contacting the U.S. Department 
of Commerce Office of Business Liaison (202-482-1360 or 
[email protected]). The application deadline is Tuesday, 
November 30, 2010. Completed applications should be submitted to the 
Office of Business Liaison. Applications received after Tuesday, 
November 30, 2010 will be considered only if space and scheduling 
constraints permit.
    General Information and Applications:
    The Office of Business Liaison, 1401 Constitution Avenue, NW., Room 
5062, Washington, DC 20230. Tel: 202-482-1360. Fax: 202-482-4054. E-
mail: [email protected].

Clarance E. Burden,
US & FCS, Senior Budget Analyst, Commercial Service Trade Missions 
Program.
[FR Doc. 2010-28148 Filed 11-5-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-FP-P