73 FR 137 pgs. 40849-40850 - Mission Statement; Manufacturing and Technology Trade Mission to Australia; November 17-21, 2008
Type: NOTICEVolume: 73Number: 137Pages: 40849 - 40850
FR document: [FR Doc. E8-15837 Filed 7-15-08; 8:45 am]
Agency: Commerce Department
Sub Agency: International Trade Administration
Official PDF Version: PDF Version
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
Mission Statement; Manufacturing and Technology Trade Mission to Australia; November 17-21, 2008
AGENCY:
Department of Commerce, ITA.
ACTION:
Notice.
Mission Description
The United States Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration, U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service is organizing a Manufacturing and Technology Trade Mission to Sydney and Melbourne, Australia, November 17-21, 2008, to be led by the Assistant Secretary for Trade Promotion or another U.S. Department of Commerce senior official.
The mission will help participating firms gain market information, make business and government contacts, solidify business strategies, and advance specific projects, towards the goal of increasing U.S. exports to Australia. The mission will include business-to-business matchmaking appointments with local companies, as well as meetings with key government officials, and American and local chambers of commerce. The delegation will be comprised of U.S. firms representing a cross section of U.S. industries with growing potential in Australia, including, but not limited to, automotive parts; building and construction, including green building; energy production, including renewable energy, coal production, and mineral extraction; transportation, including intelligent transportation systems; and water resources.
Commercial Setting
Macro measures of opportunity in the Australian market include high per capita income, rising terms of trade, and substantial purchasing power, in addition to the favorable foreign exchange rate, which gives a strong boost to U.S. exports. Australia ranks as the United States' 15th largest export market, and the Australia-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (AUSFTA) has enhanced our long and successful trading relationship by eliminating tariffs on nearly all manufactured and agricultural goods. U.S. goods and services exports to Australia reached $29 billion in 2007, an increase of 10 percent over 2006, and first-quarter figures for 2008 (provided by the Bureau of Economic Analysis) show continued growth.
The following sectors hold considerable promise for U.S. firms:
Automotive: Australia's $12 billion automotive aftermarket provides excellent opportunities for U.S. suppliers of specialty products, accessories, and necessary parts such as tires, carburetors, engine parts, piston rings, fuel injection products, transmission and ignition products, lubricants and fuel pumps, and body repair tools.
Construction: Imports dominate Australia's $1.3 billion market for construction machinery, of which U.S. imports account for $578.3 million. AUSFTA's elimination of import duty on construction machinery from the United States, together with a favorable exchange rate, puts U.S. imports in a stronger competitive position, as the import duty rate from other countries is five percent. The Australian government allocated $18.6 billion in the 2007 budget to improve the country's inland transport system over the next five years. Australia's expanding "green" building market also offers opportunities for U.S. suppliers of innovative technologies.
Energy: Power generation is an important sector in Australia, including around 81 billion in generation, transmission and distribution assets. Coal-fired generators account for the bulk of electricity generated. In 2000, the Australian government provided a stimulus by requiring electricity retailers to source an additional two percent of their supply from renewable or specified waste sources. In December 2007, the new Australian government ratified the Kyoto Protocol and has set a target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 60 percent on 2000 levels by 2050. Australia's federal government is expected to develop grants and policy initiatives to help increase the number of renewable energy projects substantially.
Mining: Australia is among the world's leading exporters of black coal, diamonds, iron ore, lead, rutile, zinc and zirconium, gold; aluminum, and bauxite. The United States is Australia's major supplier of mining equipment, claiming 35 percent of the import market share. Continuing high mineral prices throughout 2007 have led to further exploration across the country. In 2006-2007 private enterprises spent 55 percent more ($3.1 billion) on mineral exploration than in the previous fiscal year.
Oil and gas: Australia continues to be a good market for U.S. oil and gas equipment and service suppliers. Increasing demand for petroleum products (particularly liquefied natural gas) is fueling the exploration, development and production of both existing and new fields across Australia. The United States is the major supplier of pumps, valves, gauges, and other types of oil and gas equipment demanded by Australia's $2.5 billion market for technology for upstream and downstream projects.
Water resources: Australia spends an estimated $4.2 billion on water and wastewater treatment annually, 70 percent on water collection and distribution and 30 percent on product quality and treatment. Imports supply approximately 60 percent of the market, for which the United States is the third largest supplier. Water storage levels remain critically low in many areas, and all levels of government are grappling with strategies aimed at securing future water supply.
Mission Goals
The Manufacturing and Technology Trade Mission to Australia will help U.S. firms initiate or expand their exports to Australia's leading industry sectors by providing business-to-business introductions, market access information, and information on U.S. Government trade financing programs.
Mission Scenario
The mission will include stops in Sydney and Melbourne. In each city, participants will meet with government officials, potential buyers, agents/distributors, and partners. They will also attend market briefings by Embassy officials, as well as networking events offering further opportunities to speak with local business and government representatives.
| Monday, November 17, 2008 | Mission begins in Sydney; Market briefing; Business matchmaking; Networking reception. |
| Tuesday, November 18, 2008 | Business matchmaking. |
| Wednesday, November 19, 2008 | Travel to Melbourne. Evening reception. |
| Thursday, November 20, 2008 | Briefing; Business matchmaking. |
| Friday, November 21, 2008 | Business matchmaking. |
Criteria for Participation and Selection
All parties interested in participating in the Manufacturing and Technology 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 maximum of 22 companies will be selected to participate in the mission from the interested applicants. U.S. companies already doing business with Australia as well as U.S. companies seeking to enter Australia for the first time may apply.
Fees and Expenses
After a company has been selected to participate on the mission, a payment to the Department of Commerce in the form of a participation fee is required. The participation fee will be $5,580 for large firms and $3,500 for a small or medium-sized enterprise (SME).*The fee for each additional firm representative (large firm or SME) is $850. Expenses for travel, lodging, most meals, and any incidentals will be the responsibility of each mission participant. The option to participate in the mission is also being offered to U.S.-based firms with an established presence in Australia or neighboring countries; the same fee structure applies.
Footnotes:
* 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).
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, or request additional information.
• 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: Selection will be based on the following criteria:
• Suitability of the company's products or services in Australia.
• Applicant's potential for business in Australia, including likelihood of exports resulting from the 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 submission and not considered during the selection process.
Timeframe for Recruitment and Applications
Mission recruitment will be conducted in an open and public manner. Outreach will include 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. Recruitment for the mission will begin immediately and close September 26, 2008. Applications are available on-line on the Australia Trade Mission Web site at http://www.export.gov/australiamission. They can also be obtained by contacting the Mission Project Officers listed below. Applications received after September 26, 2008, will be considered only if space and scheduling permit.
Contacts
Mr. Louis Quay, Global Trade Programs, Commercial Service Trade Missions Program, Tel: 202-482-3973, E-mail: australia.mission@mail.doc.gov.
Jessica Arnold,
International Trade Specialist, Commercial Service Trade Missions Program.
[FR Doc. E8-15837 Filed 7-15-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P