[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 112 (Friday, June 10, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34041-34043]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-14371]



[[Page 34041]]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration


Clean Technologies Mission to India

AGENCY: International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Mission Description

    The United States Department of Commerce (DOC) International Trade 
Administration (ITA), U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service (CS) is 
organizing a Clean Technologies Trade Mission to India on November 7-
11, 2011 to be led by Under Secretary for International Trade Francisco 
S[aacute]nchez. India, one of the world's fastest growing economies, 
presents lucrative opportunities for U.S. companies due to a critical 
need for significant investments in clean energy and environmental 
technologies. The trade mission will target a broad range of clean 
technologies including wind, hydro, waste-to-energy, solar power 
generation and clean coal; energy efficiency including smart grids; and 
environmental technologies such as water and waste water treatment and 
solid waste management. This mission will contribute to the National 
Export Initiative (NEI) and the Growth in Emerging Metropolitan Sectors 
(GEMS) program and delivers on the CS mission of assisting U.S. 
businesses in exporting, entering new markets, and enhancing U.S. 
exports in the clean technology sector in India's emerging regions.
    The mission will help participating firms gain market insights, 
make industry contacts, solidify business strategies, and advance 
specific projects, with the goal of increasing U.S. exports to India. 
The mission will include one-on-one business appointments with pre-
screened potential buyers, agents, distributors and joint venture 
partners; meeting with national and regional government officials; and 
networking events. Participating in an official U.S. industry 
delegation, rather than traveling to India on their own, will enhance 
the companies' ability to secure meetings in India. Additionally, in 
Hyderabad, the U.S.-based solar companies will attend SOLARCON India 
2011, a DOC-certified trade show where Commercial Service India is 
organizing a U.S. pavilion, which will allow delegates to tap into a 
wealth of local contacts for matchmaking and participate in industry 
seminars that include public speaking opportunities. In Hyderabad, 
there will be a separate track of matchmaking and other activities for 
non-solar companies who would not be participating in SOLARCON.

Commercial Setting

    India, one of the world's fastest growing economies, presents 
lucrative opportunities for U.S. companies that offer products and 
services in the clean technologies industries. India is seeking to 
diversify and grow its energy sources and reduce carbon emissions in 
the context of sustained economic expansion. With the rapid growth of 
the Indian economy, the demand for clean technologies in the country is 
rising exponentially, and the development of renewable energy resources 
and deployment of environment technologies that reduce greenhouse gas 
emissions is a high priority for the Government of India (GOI).
    Renewable Energy: The Indian renewable energy market is estimated 
to be worth over $17 billion this year and is growing at an annual rate 
of 15%. Wind, hydro, solar, biomass, and waste-to-energy all have huge 
potential. Only 19,973 MW of total renewable energy potential estimated 
at 200,000 MW has been tapped in India thus far leaving a huge 
opportunity for potential future market growth.
    Demand for power in India has been continuously increasing due to 
rapid development and industrialization. The demand/availability gap 
remains the major concern for the Indian energy sector, threatening to 
slow the growth of the Indian economy. To keep its economic growth at 
its current pace, India needs to add 150 GW of power capacity at an 
investment of $200 billion over the next five years. The Government of 
India (GOI) wants to tackle the existing shortfall in the energy supply 
increasingly through the generation of renewable energies. India today 
stands among the top four countries in the world in terms of renewable 
energy capacity and it offers some attractive incentives in this area.
     Wind: U.S. companies can take advantage of India's wind 
energy market, which is one of the world's largest as India imports 
wind turbines, windmill blades, wind battery chargers, wind energy 
converters, etc.
     Hydro: The hydropower generation potential for India is 
300,000 MW out of which only 145,000 MW can be exploited due to limited 
resources and difficult geographical terrain. The GOI has firmed up an 
investment of $20 billion for the development of hydro projects by 
2020.
     Biomass: The GOI announced a target of creating 10,000 MW 
of biomass power generation by 2020 and will shortly release a biomass 
power policy to chart out a roadmap for supporting biomass generated 
power.
     Waste-to-Energy: The GOI has developed a National Master 
Plan for Development of Waste-to-Energy in India. The GOI estimates 
that the potential to generate power from municipal solid waste will 
more than double by 2020, while the potential from industrial waste is 
likely to increase by more than 50%. In a country with high population 
density and limited landfill capacity, waste to energy power generation 
is a major priority.
     Solar: India has embarked upon a $19 billion plan to 
produce 20GW of solar power by 2022.
    Energy Efficiency: The market potential for industrial energy 
efficiency products and services is projected to be approximately $27 
billion in 2018; the potential for green buildings was estimated to be 
over $3 billion in 2011.
     Smart Grids: At present the smart grid market in India is 
at a nascent stage but is projected to grow rapidly with plans to 
install several million smart meters in the next few years.
     Green Buildings: India has emerged as one of the world's 
top destinations for green buildings and has implemented a number of 
home-rating schemes and building codes, which open up a wide range of 
opportunities for U.S. companies in the energy efficiency sector.
    Environmental Technologies: The environmental technologies market 
in India is estimated at approximately $9 billion per year--with an 
annual growth rate of 15%. Growing environmental consciousness, 
increasing compliance and enforcement of environmental legislation, the 
availability of finance and rising domestic demand due to the rapid 
growth in urban population has led to the deployment of clean 
technologies in the country. The Indian Government has initiated many 
new projects for improving environmental conditions and reducing 
pollution ($12.4 billion is reserved for improvement of waste 
management, development of urban areas, water and sanitation, etc., in 
63 cities nationwide.) The booming Indian economy, rapid 
industrialization, and urbanization have all contributed to severe 
environmental damage which creates opportunities for U.S. firms that 
can offer technology solutions to these challenges.
    Water and Waste Water Management: The Indian Water Resources 
Ministry plans to invest $50 billion in the water sector over the next 
5 years.
     The $1.2 billion Indian water and waste water treatment 
market is

[[Page 34042]]

expected to grow at a rate of over 10% in the next few years.
     The U.S. accounts for over 40% of the total Indian imports 
into this sector.
     The current market for industrial and waste water 
treatment is estimated at $640 million and drinking water purification 
at $425 million. Both sectors are expected to witness tremendous growth 
in the near and medium-term.
     The $280 million bottled water market is expected to reach 
$600 million by 2012.
     The $40 million market for packaged waste water treatment 
plants is expected to reach $60 million by 2013.
    Clean Coal Technologies: India is making significant effort in 
adopting international technology and adding new clean coal 
infrastructure in the three categories of coal beneficiation, coal 
combustion and coal conversion. Indian coal is predominantly low grade 
and high in ash contents. India is targeting a coal beneficiation 
capacity of 810 million tons by 2025, an eight-fold increase from the 
current installed capacity. Improved coal combustion technology upgrade 
efforts include supercritical boiler technology and integrated gas 
combined cycle (IGCC) using synthesis gas for thermal power plants. 
Coal conversion technologies being targeted are underground coal 
gasification and coal to liquid projects. Additional focus areas are 
capturing methane from coal bed/coal mine/ventilation air for 
commercial exploitation. The GOI is collaborating with several 
international agencies and countries to explore the best available 
technology options in each of the above areas.
    New Delhi is the seat of the national government and the principal 
end-user of clean-energy technologies in India. From New Delhi, the 
national government issues directives on nationwide deployment of clean 
and renewable energy. New Delhi is also one of India's largest 
metropolitan areas and is in need of increased power generation and 
improved environmental quality. The city's size makes it particularly 
attractive market for large investments in clean energy generated by 
solid and liquid wastes.
    Hyderabad is a key hub for clean technologies in India. It is the 
home for the prestigious Confederation of Indian Industry's (CII) green 
business center and many leading Indian energy firms, many of whom have 
partnered with American companies. One of India's most significant 
solar energy trade shows--SOLARCON will take place in Hyderabad in 
November 2011. Renewable energy, waste to energy, and alternative fuels 
are all pro-actively supported by the local government through a 
variety of policy measures and projects. Hyderabad is centrally located 
and one of India's fastest growing metropolitan areas.
    Ahmedabad is the 7th largest city in India, and is located in 
Gujarat which is one of the leading industrialized states in India. 
Ahmedabad is the second largest industrial center in western India 
after Mumbai and is a base for the chemical, textile, pharmaceutical 
and food processing industries. The region offers strong business 
prospects to U.S. companies in the clean energy sector, particularly in 
solar sector as the government of the state has recently announced a 
progressive policy with respect to industrial energy efficiency. 
Ahmedabad has been identified by CS India as one of the key second tier 
cities in India under the `Growth in Emerging Metropolitan Sectors' 
(GEMS) program which is aimed at building commercial ties between the 
U.S. and India's emerging cities and states.

Mission Goals

    The goal of the Clean Technologies Trade Mission to India is to 
promote the export of U.S. goods and services by: (1) Introducing U.S. 
companies to industry representatives and potential clients and 
partners; and (2) introducing U.S. companies to Indian government 
officials in India to learn about policy initiatives that will impact 
the implementation of energy generation, energy conservation and 
environmental projects.

Mission Scenario

    In New Delhi, the U.S. mission members will participate in an 
Embassy briefing, meet with GOI officials and take part in one-on-one 
business appointments with private-sector organizations. In addition, 
they will enjoy a networking event with industry leaders and 
multipliers. In Hyderabad, all of the delegates will attend a 
networking reception and have customized one-on-one business 
appointments. In addition, solar companies will participate in SOLARCON 
2011 where they can showcase their technologies and meet with potential 
partners and attend the trade show reception. In Ahmedabad, mission 
delegates will participate in one-on-one business appointments and 
networking activities.
    Matchmaking efforts will involve multipliers such as the 
Confederation of Indian Industries (CII), Federation of Indian Chamber 
of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), and the American Chamber of Commerce 
in India. U.S. participants will be counseled before and after the 
mission by CS India staff and other federal agencies actively involved 
in clean technology trade promotion activities in India.

Proposed Time table

Monday, November 7, Day 1

New Delhi
    Welcome briefing by the U.S. Embassy
    One-on-one business appointments
    Ministry meetings
    Networking reception

Tuesday, November 8, Day 2

Depart for Hyderabad
    Welcome briefing and networking reception in honor of all the 
mission delegates

Wednesday, November 9, Day 3

Hyderabad
    Participation in SOLARCON Show (Select Solar mission delegates)
    One-on-one business appointments (All mission delegates)
    SOLARCON reception (Solar mission delegates)

Thursday, November 10, Day 4

Depart for Ahmedabad
    Networking welcome dinner

Friday, November 11, Day 5

Ahmedabad
    One-on-one business appointments
    Early evening reception
    Departure for the U.S. via Mumbai (early morning of Saturday, 
November 12)

Participation Requirements

    All parties interested in participating in the trade mission must 
complete and submit an application package for consideration by the 
DOC. All applicants will be evaluated on their ability to meet certain 
conditions and best satisfy the selection criteria as outlined below. A 
minimum of 15 and maximum of 20 companies will be selected to 
participate in the mission from the applicant pool. U.S. companies 
already doing business with India as well as U.S. companies seeking to 
enter to the Indian market for the first time may apply.

Fees and Expenses

    After a company has been selected to participate on the mission, a 
payment to the DOC in the form of a participation fee is required. The 
participation fee will be $5,000 for large firms and $4,500 for a 
small- or medium-sized enterprise (SME) or small organization, which 
will

[[Page 34043]]

cover one representative.\1\ The fee for an additional representative 
(SME or large) is $750.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \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). 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).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Participants in the SOLARCON trade show in Hyderabad will pay show-
related expenses directly to the show organizer.
    Expenses for travel, lodging, meals, and incidentals will be the 
responsibility of each mission participant. Delegation members will be 
able to take advantage of U.S. Embassy rates for hotel rooms.

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 the company's products or services to the 
market
     Applicant's potential for business in India and in the 
region, including likelihood of exports resulting from the mission
     Consistency of the applicant's goals and objectives with 
the stated scope of the mission
    Diversity of company size, sector or subsector, and location may 
also be considered during the review process.
    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.

Selection Timeline

    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, 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 September 9, 2011. Applications 
received after September 9, 2011 will be considered only if space and 
scheduling constraints permit.

Contacts

    Anne Novak, U.S. Commercial Service, Washington, DC, Tel: (202) 
262-7764, E-mail: [email protected].
    Preetha Nair, U.S. Commercial Service, New Delhi, India, Tel: +91-
11-23472347, E-mail: [email protected].

Elnora Moye,
U.S. Department of Commerce, Commercial Service Trade Mission Program.
[FR Doc. 2011-14371 Filed 6-9-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-FP-P