Commerce Secretary Gary Locke to Lead Administration's First Cabinet-Level Trade Mission

Trip to China and Indonesia to focus on green energy

On the heels of President Obama's call to double U.S. exports in the next five years and support two million American jobs, U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke will lead the administration’s first Cabinet-level trade mission next week, traveling to China and Indonesia. The clean energy business development missions will promote exports of leading U.S. technologies and services related to clean energy, energy efficiency, and electric energy storage, transmission and distribution. The mission will take place May 16-26 and make stops in Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Beijing, China; and Jakarta, Indonesia.

Locke will be joined by a business delegation of 46 executives from more than 30 U.S. companies and representatives from the U.S. Trade Development Agency (TDA), the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), and the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM).

Below is a schedule of events for Secretary Locke:

SUNDAY, MAY 16, 2010 (Hong Kong)

On Sunday, Secretary Locke will:

• Make a statement to the media during a press conference at the Hong Kong International Airport immediately upon arrival.

MONDAY, MAY 17, 2010 (Hong Kong)

On Monday, Secretary Locke will:

• Meet with the Hong Kong Secretary of the Environment Edward Yau at the Hong Kong Disney Hotel (photo spray only)
• Tour Hong Kong Disney Hotel’s Green Building operations
• Visit a green transportation showcase, featuring American-made, environmentally-friendly vehicles
• Visit the Hong Kong Disney Mass Transit Railway (MTR) station (Note: Secretary Locke will ride the MTR into downtown Hong Kong)
• Deliver remarks at an American Chamber of Commerce/Hong Kong Trade Development Council luncheon, with a press availability immediately following the event
• Meet with Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang (photo spray only)
• Tour the Hong Kong Science and Technology Park to visit U.S. companies’ green technologies and services (photo spray during facility tour)

For Hong Kong logistical information, contact Matthew Dolbow at dolbowms[at]state[dot]gov.

TUESDAY, MAY 18, 2010 (Shanghai)

On Tuesday, Secretary Locke will:

• Meet with Shanghai mayor and city officials (photo spray only)
• Present an award to Shanghai Tower Construction and Development Company, which contracted U.S. firm Gensler to provide the building’s green design
• Tour the U.S. Pavilion at the Shanghai World Expo

WEDNESDAY, MAY 19, 2010 (Shanghai)

On Wednesday, Secretary Locke will:

• Tour the Dow Research and Development facility, and meet with the U.S. member companies of the U.S.-China Energy Cooperation Program (ECP)
• Deliver remarks at an American Chamber of Commerce/US-China Business Council luncheon, with press availability immediately following the event
• Visit the Pratt Whitney Shanghai engine center to unveil a LEED Platinum certification plaque—the first facility in China to receive this award
• Witness the delivery of two environmentally-friendly fire fighting vehicles manufactured by Wisconsin-based Oshkosh Corporation

For Shanghai logistical information, contact Scott Walker at walkers[at]state[dot]gov.

THURSDAY, MAY 20, 2010 (Beijing)

On Thursday, Secretary Locke will:

• Attend meetings with Chairman Zhang Ping, Vice Chairman Zhang Guaobao, and the business delegation (photo spray only)
• Attend meetings with Vice Minister Ma Xiuhong and the business delegation (photo spray only)
• Officially open the Beijing United Family Hospital New Hope Cancer Treatment Center, a joint U.S.-China venture featuring medical devices and technology from various U.S. companies, including business delegation member General Electric (GE)

FRIDAY, MAY 21, 2010 (Beijing)

On Friday, Secretary Locke will:

• Visit the China Business Innovation Center, an energy research lab using IBM technology
• Hold a town hall meeting with students and scientists at Tsinghua University to discuss our clean energy future
• Deliver remarks at an American Chamber of Commerce/U.S.-China Business Council luncheon

SATURDAY, MAY 22, 2010 (Beijing)

On Saturday, Secretary Locke will:

• Tour the Beijing South Railway Station and ride a high-speed train to Tianjin
• Tour the Home Basic hardware store, owned by Memphis, Tenn.-based hardware distribution company, Orgill.
• Tour the facilities of Michigan-based Uni-Solar, a leader in building integrated rooftop photovoltaics
• Tour Southern California-based Coda Automotive, a manufacturer and distributor of all-electric, zero-emissions cars and battery transportation systems and a major green job creator in the United States.

SUNDAY, MAY 23, 2010 (Beijing)

On Sunday, Secretary Locke will have no public schedule.

MONDAY, MAY 24, 2010 (Beijing)

On Monday, Secretary Locke will be participating in the Strategic & Economic Dialogue (S&ED) with Secretaries Timothy Geithner and Hillary Clinton, and U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk.

For Beijing logistical information, contact Nick Snyder at 139-1118-4352 or Yan Nan at 151-1024-1582.

TUESDAY, MAY 25, 2010 (Jakarta)

On Tuesday, Secretary Locke will:

• Attend and deliver remarks at a briefing on “The Role of U.S. Companies as Partners to Indonesia in Developing a Clean Energy Future”
• Attend a meeting with Minister of State Owned Enterprises and heads of major energy companies to identify partnership opportunities for U.S. businesses (photo spray only)
• Attend meetings with the Coordinating Minister of Economic Affairs, Hatta Rajas, senior government officials, and heads of major energy companies to discuss partnership opportunities in clean energy projects for U.S. businesses (photo spray only)
• Meet with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s office (photo spray only)

WEDNESDAY, MAY 26, 2010 (Jakarta)

On Wednesday, Secretary Locke will:

• Visit Bantar Genbang Waste to Power plant, which uses GE technology to turn waste into power
• Hold a town hall meeting with local students, professors and administrators at the University of Indonesia to discuss innovation, entrepreneurship, and our clean energy future
• Deliver remarks at an American Chamber of Commerce luncheon highlighting clean energy cooperation and education, with press availability immediately following the event
• Visit the Port of Jakarta to view fishing operations and Indonesia’s research vessel Barun Jaya IV, and to witness the signing of a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)-Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries ocean exploration agreement and to discuss collaboration on fisheries management

For Jakarta logistical information, contact Paul Belmont at 62-21-3435-9567 or belmontpt[at]state[dot]gov.