[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 190 (Monday, October 1, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 59899]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-24153]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration


U.S. Multi-Sector Trade Mission to South India and Sri Lanka

AGENCY: International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Amendment to Notice.

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SUMMARY: The United States Department of Commerce, International Trade 
Administration, U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service is amending the 
Notice published at 77 FR 48499, August 14, 2012, regarding the U.S. 
Multi-Sector Trade Mission to South India and Sri Lanka Chennai and 
Cochin, India and Colombo, Sri Lanka February 3-8, 2013, to add to the 
targeted sector architecture services related to development of the 
residential and mixed use, tourism, and healthcare sectors, and 
encourage applications from U.S. exporters in those sub-sectors. Except 
as specified herein, all other information in the August 14, 2012 
Notice, including the November 30, 2012 application deadline, remains 
unchanged.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The rapid growth of the Indian economy (averaging 8% over the past 
10 years, though down as low as 6.4% recently) has created a pressing 
need for housing, hotel and healthcare infrastructure development and 
the country requires significant outside expertise to meet its 
ambitious targets. Additionally, Sri Lanka, after years of internal 
strife and conflicts, is poised to attract 2.5 million tourist arrivals 
by 2016 and the industry estimates it will need an additional 40,000 
rooms in the next five years to achieve this target. The U.S. 
Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration, U.S. and 
Foreign Commercial Service anticipates that this current growth and 
increasing demand in the infrastructure, hospitality and healthcare 
sectors will provide opportunities for U.S architecture service 
companies to expand and grow in these areas, and is therefore amending 
the mission statement for the U.S. Multi-Sector Trade Mission to 
Chennai and Cochin, India and Colombo, Sri Lanka February 3-8, 2013, to 
add the architecture services as described below to the list of 
targeted sectors for this mission, which also includes infrastructure, 
hospitality, healthcare, and environmental and information 
technologies.

Amendments

    For the reasons stated above, the Mission Description section of 
the amended Notice published at 77 FR 48499, August 14, 2012, regarding 
the U.S. Multi-Sector Trade Mission to South India and Sri Lanka 
Chennai and Cochin, India and Colombo, Sri Lanka February 3-8, 2013, 
are amended as follows:
    1. Under Mission Description, after ``expanding markets'', add the 
following text:

Architecture Services Sub-Sectors

    [cir] Tourism
    [cir] Hospital and Healthcare
    [cir] Residential and Mixed-Use
    2. Under Commercial Setting Chennai India, replace ``Chennai 
possesses a broad need for all building types, but corporate campuses, 
education, housing, infrastructure, and master-planning efforts are the 
most active development sectors.'', with the following text:
    Chennai possesses a broad need for all building types, especially 
for residential development, tourism and health facilities. The Chennai 
real estate market has been growing at over 8 per cent a year and there 
are at least 675 real estate projects underway and 43.5 million square 
feet of area is awaiting approval for development with the local 
government. The residential real estate market 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. Additionally, the SCMS Group, a Kochi-based academic house, 
plans to develop an academic complex in the Smart City campus with an 
investment of over $10 million.
    3. Under Commercial Setting Colombo Sri Lanka, after ``With the 
return of peace, sectors such as construction, telecommunications, 
tourism and transportation offer enormous opportunities for U.S. 
companies.'', add the following text:
    The Urban Development Authority, a state agency, has plans to 
develop many areas of Colombo for tourism, housing, leisure and 
entertainment. A prime location in Colombo close to several five star 
hotels and adjoining a lake is earmarked for hotels, restaurants, 
malls, casinos and other leisure activities. A leading local company 
has developed plans to convert the Colombo Fort area to an 
entertainment and leisure district and has plans to attract leading 
international brands and franchises to this major entertainment and 
shopping hub. A marina with water sports activities is also planned. 
The UDA is also implementing projects in the south and north central 
areas of the country as well. The UDA is under the authority of the 
Ministry of Defense.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 
San Jose (Silicon Valley) Export Assistance Center, Aileen Crowe Nandi, 
Commercial Officer, 55 S. Market Street, Suite 1040, San Jose, CA 
95113, Tel: (408) 535-2757, ex. 102, Email: [email protected]
U.S. Commercial Service India, James P. Golsen, Principal Commercial 
Officer for South India, U.S. Commercial Service, Chennai, India, Tel: 
+91-44-2857-4209, Email: [email protected].

Elnora Moye,
Trade Program Assistant.
[FR Doc. 2012-24153 Filed 9-28-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-FP-P