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Mission Statement

Environmental Technologies Matchmaker Trade Delegation

Sao Paulo, Brazil, Montevideo, Uruguay & Buenos Aires, Argentina

September 11 - 15, 2000

Mission Description:

Export Promotion Services Matchmaker Program is organizing an Environmental Technologies Matchmaker Trade Delegation to South America September 11 - 15, 2000. This event will be promoted to the U.S. environmental industry and will focus on helping companies expand into this market. Yvonne Jackson, Project Officer, Matchmaker Program will lead the delegation. Commercial Setting:

Brazil

With the largest economy and population in Latin America, Brazil presents considerable long-term export opportunities for U.S. environmental technology firms. Brazil remained the United States' 11th largest export market in 1998 and real GDP is expected to be 4% in 2000. Since 1994, U.S. exports to Brazil have risen almost 90% and growth will persist as the Brazilian economy stabilizes and living standards increase.

Sales in Brazil's environmental technologies market reached an estimated US$ 2 billion in 1998, a 10% increase over 1997, including equipment, engineering and consulting services and instrumentation associated with pollution control and cleanup projects.

Best prospects for U.S. environmental products and services include: Environmental engineering and consulting services; Management and operation of water and wastewater treatment stations; Equipment and technology for water/wastewater treatment stations, general pollution projects/installations, etc.; Solid waste management technologies: domestic garbage, sludge, co-processing, incineration, recycling, etc.; Clean technologies; Soil recovery technologies; Automation and monitoring systems for water and wastewater treatment plants.

Argentina With a GDP of $298 billion in 1998, Argentina is the second largest economy in South America. The 90's economic restructuring and macroeconomic stability fostered major new investment in services and industry. As a result, Argentine exports more than doubled in six years – from about $12 billion in 1992 to about $26 billion in 1998. Imports also grew rapidly during the same period, rising from $15 billion to about $31 billion.

Based on stability and remarkable economic growth fostered by the convertibility plan of 1991, Argentina has become one of the world's most promising emerging markets. Argentina's consumer prices are projected to fall 0.5% in 1999. Since 1996, Argentina has experienced its highest rate of sustained investment growth in 50 years.

During the 1990s, a number of environmental initiatives began in Argentina, making it a promising market for U.S. environmental technology and service exports. Among these initiatives is a major effort to strengthen Argentina's environmental legal framework, which is being supported by a number of multilateral development banks.

Uruguay At the center of Mercosur, Uruguay represents excellent export opportunities for U.S. environmental technology companies. With over three million people and its proximity to Argentina and Brazil, its location and market size make it an excellent test market for companies considering Mercosur. Uruguay's economy grew 4.5% in 1998 with a year-end real GDP of $21 billion. Mission Goals:

The Matchmaker's goal is to gain first-hand market information and provide access to key government officials and potential business partners for new-to-market, and/or new-to-export U.S. environmental technologies firms desiring to enter these Latin American markets.

Mission Scenario: Participants will spend two days in Sao Paulo, Brazil, one day in Montevideo, Uruguay, and two days in Buenos Aires, Argentina. At each stop the participants will have one-on-one Matchmaker meetings. Timetable:

Mission participants will arrive in Sao Paulo, Brazil on September 10 and will leave for Montevideo on the evening of September 12. On the following evening, September 13, participants will travel to Buenos Aires. The mission will end on September 15 in Buenos Aires. Matchmaker promotion will include but not be limited to the following venues: the USEAC Teams; relevant trade publications; relevant trade associations; past Matchmaker and Commerce trade mission participants; various in-house and purchased industry lists. The Matchmaker will be listed in the Federal Register and on ITA's Internet home page.

The Matchmaker will target 15 SMEs. The fee to participate will range between $3,500 - $4,000. Recruitment will begin February 7, 2000 and will close July 24, 2000, five weeks prior to the start of the mission.

Criteria for Participation:

Relevance of the company's business line to mission goals
Potential for business in the selected markets
Timeliness of the company's completed application and payment of the mission participation 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
Certification that the 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. firm and have U.S. content representing at least 51 percent of the value of the finished good or service.

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

Contact Information:

Yvonne Jackson, Project Manager
Matchmaker Trade Delegations Program
U.S. Department of Commerce, Room 20l2
Washington, D.C. 20230
Tel: (202) 482-2675 -Fax: (202) 482-0178
E-mail:Yvonne.Jackson@mail.doc.gov
Website: http://www.usatrade.gov/matchmaker