Asian Infrastructure Mission
Trade Delegation

Istanbul, Turkey

May 19-23, 2003

Mission Description:

The U.S. Department of Commerce's Office of Export Promotion Services is organizing an Asian Infrastructure Mission (AIM) to Istanbul, Turkey on May 19-23, 2003, to be held in conjunction with the Annual Meeting of the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The Trade Mission will focus on introducing U.S. suppliers, consultants and project developers to key government officials and decision-makers in 35 emerging markets of the Asia Pacific region supported financially by the ADB. These emerging markets include countries in the Central Asian Republics, South Asia, Southeast Asia, China and the Pacific. The special focus will be on infrastructure sectors, such as energy, education, environment, health, housing, finance, natural resources, telecommunications and transportation.

Commercial Setting:

The mission is planned to allow participants to take advantage of the lucrative opportunities the Asian Development Bank provides in the region. ADB provides steady support of about $5-6 billion every year for new infrastructure development throughout the Asia Pacific region. ADB procurement and financing rules ensure transparency in project awards and offer U.S. firms fair market access and reliable payment in hard currency. In 2001 U.S. firms secured $309 million in new contracts.

The sectors with special opportunities are noted below with the top five countries highlighted:
Agriculture and Natural Resources -Indonesia, China, Vietnam, Pakistan and Bangladesh;
Education - Thailand, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Philippines, Indonesia and Uzbekistan;
Energy - India, China, Pakistan, Indonesia and Bangladesh;
Environment -China, India, Indonesia, Thailand and Uzbekistan;
Health - Indonesia, Philippines, Pakistan, Vietnam and Cambodia;
Housing and Urban Infrastructure -India, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand and Pakistan;
Law, Finance and Public Administration -Pakistan, Thailand, Indonesia, India and Vietnam; and
Transportation and Telecommunications -China, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Vietnam

Mission Goal:

The goal of this mission is to ensure that participating companies will have the opportunity to interact with key officials and ADB-assisted private infrastructure project developers, learn firsthand about projects, influence key officials' thinking about new projects, and learn about these officials' needs for the many types of products and services used in development projects. These early-stage discussions will position U.S. firms to maximize U.S. content in, and position U.S. firms to take full advantage of, the consultancy, equipment supply and project development opportunities with the technical support and financial leverage from ADB and U.S. Government programs, such as those offered by TDA, OPIC and EXIM, and the direct support from embassies, especially the U.S. Commercial Service.

Mission Scenario:

Participants will spend four and a half days in Istanbul, Turkey. The U.S. Commercial Service will provide a full schedule of pre-arranged private meetings with Asian local and central government officials responsible for planning, designing, constructing, operating, maintaining, regulating, or financing public or private infrastructure projects. The U.S. Commercial Service, in cooperation with several nonprofit multipliers, will also arrange a series of seminars on topics relating to the development and operation of infrastructure projects in Asia. The U.S. Commercial Service, will also facilitate social/networking events for participants.

Tentative Timetable:

Sunday, May 18	Arrive in Istanbul, Turkey
Monday, May 19	Business Meetings Seminars
Tuesday, May 20	Business Meetings Seminars
Wednesday, May 21	Business Meetings Seminars
Thursday, May 22	Business Meetings Seminars
Friday, May 23	Business Meetings Noon Conclusion

Criteria for Participation

• Preference will be given to U.S. owned or U.S. incorporated companies
  
• Relevance of the company's business line to mission goals
  
• Potential for business in the selected markets
  
• Timeliness of the company's completed application, participation agreement and payment of the mission participant fees
  
• Provision of adequate information on the company's products and/or services and communication of the company's primary objectives to facilitate appropriate matching with potential business partners or appropriate meetings with Asian government officials
  
• Certification that the supplier company's products and/or services are manufactured or produced in the United States or, if manufactured/produced outside of the United States, the product/service must be marketed under the name of a U.S. supplier firm and have U.S. content representing at least 51 percent of the value of the finished good/service.

Any partisan political activities of an applicant, including political contributions, will be entirely irrelevant to the selection process.

The Trade Mission will be promoted through the following venues: the Export Assistance Centers and International Trade Administration Industry Sector Teams; the Federal Register; relevant trade publications; relevant trade associations; past Trade Mission and Commerce trade mission participants; various in-house and purchased industry lists, and on the Commerce Department trade missions calendar - www.ita.doc.gov/doctm/tmcal.html - and other Internet websites.

The Trade Mission will target 40 companies. The fee to participate will be $2,900. The fee does not include the cost of travel and lodging. Recruitment will begin immediately and will close April 21, 2003, about one month prior to the start of the mission. Applications received after the date will be considered only if space and scheduling constraints permit.

Contact Information:

Raj Dheer, Project Officer
Commercial Service Trade Mission Program
U.S. Department of Commerce, Room 2012
Washington, D.C. 20230
Tel: (1-202) 482-0111 / Fax: (1-202) 482-0178
E-mail: raj.dheer@mail.doc.gov