Mission Description

The United States Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration, U.S. Commercial Service is organizing an Environmental Technologies Trade Mission to Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic, November 7-11, 2005. This event offers a timely and cost-effective opportunity for U.S. firms to tap into fast-growing markets for environmental equipment, technology and services. Target sectors holding high potential for U.S exporters include solid waste handling and treatment, wastewater treatment (including biological treatments), packaging recycling, and drinking water treatment. Mission participants will benefit from country briefings, one-on-one appointments with prospective business contacts, and high-level meetings with government officials and business leaders.

Since their EU accession, all three markets included in this mission have become eligible for EU Structural (infrastructure related) and Cohesion (environment and transportation) Fund grants. Tenders for EU-funded projects under the Structural and Cohesion Funds do not have a nationality requirement and may extend to U.S. involvement.

Commercial Setting

Poland. The biggest environmental market driver in Poland is the strong desire to meet European Union (EU) environmental standards, a key condition for Poland's accession to the EU last year. The country faces an estimated US$19 to 35 billion in costs to adapt to EU standards of environmental protection. These expenses will be born primarily by business entities and local councils in efforts to use more environmentally friendly materials and significantly reduce harmful emissions.

Poland's new environmental regulations, in force since May 2004, have tightened up requirements for the storage, distribution, and transportation of fuel oil and the control of emissions of volatile organic compounds. There are clear opportunities for U.S. firms offering equipment and services to modernize storage systems, encapsulate transport equipment, and reduce sulfur levels in liquid fuels. Similar initiatives are underway to upgrade Poland's sewage plants, factories, and recycling facilities.

Hungary. EU accession requirements have tightened environmental performance standards in Hungary, creating new opportunities for environmental technology and service providers. Anticipated projects in coming years include wastewater treatment (US $4.250 billion), waste management (US $1.05 billion), and air pollution control (US $100 million). Upgrading Hungary's performance in waste management, energy efficiency, and air, soil, and water pollution control to meet EU standards will require large investments.

While American companies face significant competition from the Netherlands, France, Japan, and the Scandinavian countries, they will find expanding opportunities in Hungary, given the rising demand for innovative, cost-effective approaches to environmental protection.

Czech Republic. The Czech Republic's accession to EU was one of the main drivers for the introduction of new environmental laws in the country. Compliance with these laws over the next seven years will require more than an estimated US $10 billion in expenditures. EU structural funding will be available to assist the Czechs in meeting EU environmental standards. U.S. environmental technologies are highly competitive in this market, and with a Czech partner, U.S. firms can compete for EU funds.

Best prospects for U.S. exports include used tire disposal, biodegradable waste treatment, packaging and packaging waste recycling, waste water treatment technologies, and remediation. In addition, one of the three major wastewater treatment plant operators has left the market, leaving room for more prospects. In Prague, a wastewater treatment plant needs an upgrade for nitrogen and phosphorous removal. Brownfield remediation and renewable energies are also areas for new competition.

Mission Goals

The goal of the Environmental Technologies Trade Mission to Central Europe is to enable U.S. participants to gain first-hand market exposure, access to government decision makers, and meetings with private-sector contacts, including potential agents, distributors and business partners, so they can position themselves to take advantage of the environmental business opportunities in Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic.

Mission Scenario

The Environmental Trade Mission will include three stops: Warsaw, Poland; Budapest, Hungary; and Prague, Czech Republic. In each city, trade mission participants will benefit from country briefings and one-on-one business meetings with prospective agents, distributors, partners, and end users. In each city, mission participants will be able to attend high-level receptions and business meetings with government and business leaders.

Mission Timetable

Criteria for Participation and Selection

• Relevance of a company's business line to mission goals.
• Timeliness of company's signed application and participation agreement (including a participation fee of $3,400).
• Potential for business in Central Europe for the company.
• Minimum of eight and maximum of twelve participating companies in the mission.
• Provision of adequate information on company's products and/or services, and company's primary market objectives, in order to facilitate appropriate matching with potential business partners.
• Certification that the company meets Departmental guidelines for participation. A company's products or services must be 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.

Any partisan political activities (including political contributions) of an applicant are entirely irrelevant to the selection process.

Mission recruitment will be conducted in an open and public manner, including publication in the Federal Register, posting on the Commerce Department trade mission calendar - www.ita.doc.gov/doctm/tmcal.html - and other Internet web sites, press releases to the general and trade media, direct mail and broadcast fax, notices by industry trade associations and other multiplier groups, and at industry meetings, symposia, conferences, trade shows.

Recruitment for the mission will begin in April 2005 and conclude no later than September 30, 2005. The participation fee for the event will be $3,400 per company. The participation fee does not include travel and lodging costs. Applications received after the closing date will be considered only if space and scheduling constraints permit.

U.S. Contact Information:

Bill Cline
Environmental Technologies Team
Reno U.S. Export Assistance Center
1 E. 1st Street, 16th Floor
Reno, NV 89501
Phone: 775-784-5203
E-mail: bill.cline@mail.doc.gov

Yvonne Jackson
Environmental Technologies Team
Global Trade Programs
U.S. Department of Commerce
1401 Constitution Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20230
Phone: 202-482-2675
E-mail: yvonne.jackson@mail.doc.gov

4/7/05