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Clean-Energy Technologies Focus of Upcoming Trade Mission to India and China In April, a Commerce Department trade mission to India and China will promote U.S. clean-energy technologies to potential buyers in those expanding markets. by Frank Caliva A trade mission to India and China to promote the sales of U.S. clean-energy technology has been scheduled for April 18–25, 2007. Led by David Bohigian, assistant secretary of commerce for market access and compliance, the mission will visit New Delhi and Chennai in India from April 18 to 20 and Beijing and Nanjing in China from April 23 to 25. (Story continues below.)
Clean-energy technologies have moved to the forefront of energy infrastructure investments in India and China. Those two expanding economies are seeking to diversify their energy sources and to reduce carbon emissions without hindering economic development. The trade mission will highlight technologies that are at the center of the Asia Pacific Partnership (APP) on Clean Development and Climate, an innovative U.S.-led effort to accelerate the development and deployment of clean energy technologies through a voluntary public-private partnership among six major Asia-Pacific nations. (See related article in the July–August 2006 issue of International Trade Update.) “We have seen amazing growth in the economies of both India and China that has led to a great need for additional energy in these countries, and we expect this trend to continue,” said Bohigian. “At the same time, U.S. companies have developed innovative clean-energy products, and their deployment in India and China will have dramatic effects on the environment not only in these countries, but around the world.” During the trade mission, U.S. renewable energy, energy-efficiency, clean-coal, and distributed generation companies will have the chance to meet with national and local government officials and to participate in networking opportunities, one-on-one business meetings, country briefings by experts, and site visits. Growing Economies, High Energy Demand India, the world’s fastest-growing free-market democracy, has a critical need for investments in clean energy. Demand for energy in India far exceeds supply, and the development of renewable energy resources is a high priority for the government. According to Commercial Service estimates, the market for renewable energy business is about $500 million per year and is growing at an annual rate of 15 percent, creating strong and diverse business prospects for U.S. companies. China, the world’s fastest-growing major market, is targeting the development of clean-energy technologies in its current Five Year Plan because of rapidly increasing energy demand and the desire to expand the use of non–fossil fuels. The plan emphasizes clean coal, wind power, solar power, and biomass technologies. It also calls for developing large-scale, high-efficiency, and environmentally friendly power generation. Two Indian Cities at Forefront of Clean-Energy Usage The first stop for the mission will be New Delhi, the seat of India’s national government and the country’s principal end-user of clean-energy technology. New Delhi is also one of India’s largest metropolitan areas and is in acute need of power generation and environmental quality improvements. The city’s size makes it a particularly attractive market for large investments in clean energy generated by solid and liquid wastes. Chennai, formerly known as Madras, is the capital of Tamil Nadu. In addition to being one of the top five Indian states in terms of foreign direct investment, Tamil Nadu is home to a number of renewable energy companies. Chennai and Tamil Nadu are centers for national efforts in wind energy and solar air–heating technology. Also, India’s first special economic zone for manufacturing and testing of non-conventional energy equipment will open soon in Chennai. In China, Olympics Spur Development Beijing is unique in China because it is a city with provincial status, enabling its municipal government to approve independent foreign investment projects up to $30 million. This ability has positioned Beijing as an attractive location for foreign investment in China. As the national capital, the city also offers unparalleled access to Chinese policy-makers. The selection of Beijing as the host of the 2008 Summer Olympic Games has also spurred substantial government investment in projects that improve environmental quality. Nanjing, home to more than 5 million people, is one of China’s most developed cities. Power and energy are among the city’s core industries. Nanjing hosts one of China’s largest trade fairs on clean and renewable energy and is beginning a prominent provincial-level project to create an efficient power plant. This project is intended to achieve energy conservation and efficiency by implementing new technologies, and it is rooted in demand-side management familiar to U.S. companies. The use of clean, renewable energy and energy efficiency are crucial components of the project. Frank Caliva is an international trade specialist in the Market Access and Compliance unit of the International Trade Administration.
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