[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 103 (Tuesday, May 29, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31581-31584]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-12931]



[[Page 31581]]

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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration


U.S. Architecture Services Trade Mission to India; Chennai, 
Kolkata and Bangalore, India; October 15-19, 2012

AGENCY: International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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

Mission Description

    The United States Department of Commerce, International Trade 
Administration (ITA), U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service (CS), with 
support from the American Institute of Architects (http://www.aia.org/
), is organizing an Architecture Services Trade Mission to India from 
October 15 to 19, 2012. The purpose of the mission is to introduce U.S. 
firms to India's rapidly expanding market for architectural and design 
services, including project management services, and to assist U.S. 
companies to pursue export opportunities in this sector. The mission to 
India is designed for U.S. architectural, project management, and 
design services companies, particularly small- and medium-sized 
enterprises (SMEs), that provide state-of-the-art and world class 
designs. Target sectors holding high potential for U.S exporters 
include: master planning (regional design--city planning or regional 
planning, neighborhood design, port re-development--design of the 
walkways, buildings, etc. along the port); hospitals and health care 
architecture; airports/other transportation infrastructure facility 
architecture; mixed-use projects architectural services; and 
educational (k-12, university and beyond).
    The mission will include stops in Chennai, Kolkata, and Bangalore, 
where participants will receive market briefings and participate in 
customized meetings with key officials and prospective partners. Trade 
mission participants will also have the option to have additional stops 
at Mumbai, Ahmedabad and New Delhi, where CS offices also can arrange 
meetings with both private sector developers and state and local 
government officials.
    The mission supports President Obama's National Export Initiative 
(NEI) and his goal of doubling U.S. exports by 2015 to strengthen the 
U.S. economy and U.S. competitiveness through meaningful job creation. 
The mission will help U.S. companies already doing business in India to 
increase their footprint and deepen their business interests.
    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 of services 
to India. The mission will include one-on-one business appointments 
with pre-screened potential buyers, agents, distributors and joint 
venture partners; meetings with state and local government officials 
and industry leaders; 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.

Commercial Setting

    India, one of the world's fastest growing economies, presents 
lucrative opportunities for U.S. companies that offer products and 
services that help to meet the nation's rapidly expanding 
infrastructure and housing needs. India is seeking to invest $1 
trillion in its infrastructure during the 12th Five-Year Plan (2012-
2017) and is seeking private sector participation to fund half of this 
massive expansion through the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. 
The rapid growth of the Indian economy (averaging 8 percent over the 
past 10 years) has created a pressing need for infrastructure 
development and the country requires significant outside expertise to 
meet its ambitious targets. U.S. industry is well qualified to supply 
the kinds of architectural services and project management skills 
needed to successfully tackle major initiatives, including such 
groundbreaking projects as the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) 
and the proposed 250-km Bangalore-Chennai expressway, to be built at a 
cumulative cost of $1 billion. U.S. technologies are also well 
positioned to contribute to energy production and greater efficiency in 
new industrial zones as they are built in India, which faces chronic 
energy challenges.
    Major upcoming opportunities for U.S. firms include the seven 
technology townships associated with the development of the Delhi 
Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC), the billion dollar Chennai-Bangalore 
expressway, municipal construction in several large cities, large 
educational and hospitality projects launched by the private sector as 
well as multi-use township and residential projects.
    The Indian architecture/construction industry is an integral part 
of the economy and a conduit for a substantial part of its development 
investment. The profession and practice of architecture, design and 
project management in India has undergone a complete transformation in 
recent years. The booming economy and growing middle class has prompted 
developers to bring in foreign architects to design many projects, 
including airports, residential and commercial buildings, and resorts. 
Foreign architects have a proven track record and have helped bring 
about a transformation in the way projects are designed and built in 
India. Many foreign architecture firms have paired up with Indian firms 
who have the expertise on the ground to execute projects.
    To explore these opportunities the trade mission will visit three 
cities as described below:

Chennai, Tamil Nadu

    Chennai (also known as Madras) is the capital city of the Indian 
state of Tamil Nadu. Located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of 
Bengal, it is a major commercial, cultural, and educational center in 
south India and the port of Chennai is the second largest port in 
India. As of the 2011 census, the city had 4.68 million residents 
making it the sixth most populous city in India; the urban 
agglomeration, which comprises the city and its suburbs, was home to 
approximately 8.9 million people, making it the fourth most populous 
metropolitan area in the country. According to Forbes magazine, Chennai 
is one of the fastest growing cities in the world. It has a diversified 
economic base anchored by the automobile, software services, hardware 
manufacturing, and health care and financial services industries. 
According to the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Chennai is 
estimated to grow to a $100-billion economy, 2.5 times its present 
size, by the year 2025.
    Chennai firms are looking to American architects to learn the 
processes for executing world-class contemporary buildings. Chennai is 
experiencing a broad need for all building types, but corporate 
campuses, education, housing, infrastructure, and master-planning 
efforts are the most active development sectors. The Chennai realty 
market has been growing at over 8 percent a year and there are at least 
675 real estate projects pending for approval with the local government 
and 43.5 million square feet area is awaiting development in Chennai. 
The residential real estate market in is expected to register strong 
growth in 2012, primarily on account of improvement in the information 
technology (IT) sector, and continued economic growth in the region. CS 
Chennai has supported the CII initiated Green building movement, with 
the U.S.

[[Page 31582]]

Agency for International Development (USAID) supported Green Building 
council, established in Hyderabad in cooperation with U.S. Green 
building council.

Kolkata, West Bengal

    Kolkata (also known as Calcutta) is the capital of the Indian state 
of West Bengal and has a rich history spanning more than 300 years. 
Located on the east bank of the Hooghly River, it is the principal 
commercial, cultural, and educational centre of East India, while the 
Port of Kolkata is India's oldest port and the country's sole major 
river port.
    The Kolkata metropolitan area (which is 1,480 sq. km, including its 
suburbs), is home to approximately 14.1 million people within three 
municipal corporations and 39 local municipalities, making it the third 
most populous metropolitan area of the country. As of 2008, Kolkata's 
economic output, as measured by gross domestic product, ranked third 
behind Mumbai and New Delhi. Kolkata underwent years of urban decay 
from the 1970s until the late 1990s. Since then, interest in the city 
picked up and a construction boom is now underway. High rise apartment 
buildings, resorts and commercial complexes are being developed all 
over the city. As a growing metropolitan city in a developing country, 
Kolkata faces urban challenges such as extremely high population 
density, high traffic density in low road space, several thousand 
heritage buildings in dire need of restoration, shortage of funds, 
socio-economic dislocations, and unregulated expansion of the city to 
accommodate growing population and pollution.
    Opportunities have been created by the growing demand for high end 
residential and commercial buildings, new satellite townships, the 
growing economic power of the middle class population, exposure to 
modern city concepts from a globalized urban youth population and a 
vibrant real estate developer community. One of the largest projects is 
the construction of Rajarhat/New Town, an area that will ultimately 
cover as much as 50 sq km. In recent years, bids have generated 
participation by large Indian real estate firms such as Unitech and 
DLF, and by an international leader, EMAAR. Local architects and 
developers are seeking to attract foreign architects to get involved in 
high profile projects.

Bangalore, Karnataka

    Bangalore (also known as Bengaluru), is the capital of the state of 
Karnataka. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the south-eastern part of 
Karnataka, and with an estimated population of 8.5 million in 2011, 
Bangalore is the third most populous city in India and the 28th largest 
in the world. Bangalore, most famously known as ``India's Silicon 
Valley'' is the hub for India's information technology sector. With the 
advent and growth of the ITES industry, as well as numerous industries 
in other sectors, and the onset of economic liberalization since the 
early 1990s, Bangalore has taken the lead in service-based industries, 
fuelling substantial growth of the city both economically and 
spatially.
    Bangalore has become a cosmopolitan city attracting people and 
business alike, within and across nations. A large number of companies, 
domestic as well as multinationals, have opened their offices in the 
Silicon Valley of India. While the Bangalore Development Authority 
(BDA) governs the growth process of the city, a majority of commercial 
developments in the city have been carried out by the private sector. 
The city is becoming a hub of people with high salaries leading to high 
disposable incomes, which has created a boom in real estate prices; 
prices grew 25 percent in the period 2011-12. The past year also saw a 
large number of residential project launches. There are many factors 
which are boosting demand. Realty experts are of the opinion that the 
large metro rail project now under construction will transform the real 
estate scenario in this city in next three years, similar to what 
happened in the national capital Delhi. Demand for back-offices and 
contact centers has resulted in continued strong growth in suburban 
real estate development, with leading IT companies continuing to set up 
new facilities in Bangalore.

Mission Goals

    The goals of the Architecture Services Trade Mission to India are 
to provide U.S. participants with first-hand market information, and 
one-on-one meetings with business contacts, including potential end 
users and partners, so that they can position themselves to enter or 
expand their presence in the Indian market. As such, the mission will 
focus on helping U.S. companies obtain market information, establish 
business and government contacts, solidify business strategies, and/or 
advance specific projects.
    The mission will also facilitate first-hand market exposure and 
access to government decision makers and key private-sector industry 
contacts, including potential partners. It will provide opportunities 
for participants to have policy and regulatory framework discussions 
with Indian government officials and private sector representatives, in 
order to advance U.S. architectural interests in India.

Mission Scenario

    The mission will start in Chennai with a welcome dinner on Sunday, 
October 14. The next day the participants will attend a round table 
industry seminar, industry briefing, site visits, lunch meeting with 
chamber/builders association and one-on-one business meetings. On 
Tuesday evening the delegates will reach Kolkata.
    On Wednesday morning the delegates will start with a site visit. 
This will be followed by a briefing meeting, followed by one-on-one 
meetings. There will also be a meeting with the Government of West 
Bengal, which will be optional for the participating companies. At 
noon, there will be a networking luncheon with representatives from 
Indian architecture firms, project developers, and contracting 
engineers. After lunch the one-on-one meetings will continue followed 
by a networking reception. On Thursday morning the delegation will 
depart for Bangalore.
    In Bangalore, the delegates will start with site visits and will 
also have the opportunity to meet and network with Bangalore-based 
architectural firms and Government regulators on Thursday. Friday 
morning will start with an expert briefing, followed by one-on-one 
business meetings. They will also have a networking lunch meeting with 
members of the Confederation of Real Estate Developers' Association 
(CREDIA).
    The participants will attend policy, market and commercial 
briefings by the U.S. Commercial Service and industry experts as well 
as networking events offering further opportunities to speak with 
government officials as well as potential distributors, agents, 
partners and end users. U.S. participants will be counseled before and 
after the mission by CS India staff. Participation in the mission will 
include the following:
     Pre-travel briefings on subjects from business practices 
in India to security;
     Pre-scheduled meetings with government officials, 
potential partners, distributors, agents, end users and local industry 
contacts in Chennai, Kolkata and Bangalore;
     Airport transfers in Chennai, Kolkata and Bangalore;
     Participation in networking receptions in Chennai, Kolkata 
and Bangalore; and participation in one-on-one business meetings with 
potential clients, partners and distributors in all three cities.

[[Page 31583]]



                           Proposed Timetable
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 Chennai
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sunday--October 14................................   Arrive in
                                                     Chennai.
                                                     Evening
                                                     Welcome Dinner.
                                                     Overnight
                                                     stay at Chennai.
Monday--October 15................................   Breakfast
                                                     briefing by
                                                     industry experts.
                                                     Industry
                                                     Roundtable on
                                                     Infrastructure/
                                                     Architecture/
                                                     Design.
                                                     Networking
                                                     lunch hosted by a
                                                     Chamber.
                                                     One-on-one
                                                     business meetings.
                                                     Overnight
                                                     stay in Chennai.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                             Chennai/Kolkata
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tuesday--October 16...............................   Afternoon
                                                     travel to Kolkata.
                                                     Overnight
                                                     stay in Kolkata.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 Kolkata
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wednesday--October 17.............................   Site Visit.
                                                     Networking
                                                     lunch with local
                                                     industry
                                                     representatives.
                                                     One-on-one
                                                     business meetings.
                                                     Evening
                                                     networking
                                                     reception hosted by
                                                     Consul General.
                                                     Overnight
                                                     stay in Kolkata.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                            Kolkata/Bangalore
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thursday--October 18..............................   Morning
                                                     travel to
                                                     Bangalore.
                                                     Site
                                                     visits.
                                                     Meetings
                                                     with local industry
                                                     and government
                                                     officials.
                                                     Evening
                                                     networking
                                                     reception.
                                                     Overnight
                                                     stay in Bangalore.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                Bangalore
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Friday--October 19................................   Breakfast
                                                     briefing.
                                                     Roundtable/
                                                     Workshop:
                                                     Networking with
                                                     Indian
                                                     Architectural
                                                     firms.
                                                     Networking
                                                     lunch hosted by
                                                     CREDAI--The
                                                     Confederation of
                                                     Real Estate
                                                     Developers'
                                                     Association of
                                                     India.
                                                     One-on-one
                                                     business meetings.
                                                     Wrap-up
                                                     discussion followed
                                                     by dinner.
                                                     Mission
                                                     ends.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Participation Requirements

    All parties interested in participating in the trade 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. A minimum of 15 and maximum of 25 
participants will be selected from the applicant pool to participate in 
the mission.

Fees and Expenses

    After a company or trade association has been selected to 
participate on the mission, a payment to the U.S. Department of 
Commerce in the form of a participation fee is required. The 
participation fee is $4,735 for large firms and $4,575 for small or 
medium-sized enterprises (SME).\1\ The fee for each additional 
representative (large firm or SME/trade organization) is $750. After 
the mission there is the option for gold key service match-making 
meetings arranged in Mumbai, New Delhi or Ahmedabad for additional 
fees.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \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/contracting opportunities/
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).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Exclusions

    The mission fee does not include any personal travel expenses such 
as lodging, most meals, local ground transportation (except for 
transportation to and from meetings), and air transportation from the 
U.S. to the mission sites and return to the U.S. Delegate members will, 
however, be able to take advantage of U.S. Government rates for hotel 
rooms. Business visas may be required. Government fees and processing 
expenses to obtain such visas are also not included in the mission 
costs. However, the U.S. Department of Commerce will provide 
instructions to each participant on the procedures required to obtain 
necessary business visas.

Conditions for Participation

    Applicants 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 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, are marketed under the name of a U.S. firm and have 
at least fifty-one percent

[[Page 31584]]

U.S. content. In the case of a trade association or trade organization, 
the applicant must certify that for each company to be represented by 
the association or trade organizations, the products and/or services 
the represented company seeks to export 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 addition, each applicant must:
     Certify that the products and services that it wishes to 
market 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 
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

    Targeted mission participants are U.S. companies and trade 
associations providing architectural services that have an interest in 
entering or expanding their business in the Indian market. The 
following criteria will be evaluated in selecting participants:
     Suitability of a company's (or in the case of a trade 
association or trade organization, represented companies') products or 
services to the Indian market.
     Company's (or in the case of a trade association or trade 
organization, represented companies') potential for business in India, 
including likelihood of exports resulting from the mission.
     Consistency of the applicant company's (or in the case of 
a trade association or trade organization, represented companies') 
goals and objectives with the stated scope of the mission.
     Current or pending major project participation.
     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 Application

    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.export.gov/trademissions/
) 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.
    Recruitment for this mission will begin immediately and conclude no 
later than August 24, 2012. The U.S. Department of Commerce will review 
applications and make selection decisions on a rolling basis beginning 
June 4, 2012, until the maximum of 25 participants is selected. 
Applications received after August 24, 2012 will be considered only if 
space and scheduling constraints permit.

Contacts

U.S. Commercial Service Washington, DC

    Arica Young, U.S. Commercial Service, Washington, DC, Tel: 202-482-
2833, Email: [email protected].

U.S. Commercial Service India

    Sangeeta Taneja, U.S. Commercial Service, Ahmedabad, India, Tel: 
+91-79-2656-5216, Email: [email protected].

Frank Spector,
Senior International Trade Specialist, Global Trade Programs.
[FR Doc. 2012-12931 Filed 5-25-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-FP-P