Mission Statement

MANUFACTURING MATCHMAKER

India

New Delhi, Chennai, Mumbai, and Pune

April 3-11, 2000

Mission Description:

Export Promotion Services Matchmaker Program, is organizing a Manufacturing Matchmaker Trade Delegation to India, April 3-11, 2000. This event will be promoted to major U.S. manufacturing sub-sectors including: building products; computers and peripherals; pollution control; food processing and packaging; and general industrial equipment. Sam Dhir, Project Officer for the Matchmaker Program, will lead the delegation.

Commercial Setting:

For FY2000 the Indian government projects real GDP growth to be between 6-7 percent. Inflation is currently less than 4 percent and is projected to range between 5-7 percent in 2000. Overall the Indian economy continues to perform relatively well and long-term prospects are good. India continues to weather the global financial turmoil well because of its manageable current account deficit and low levels of short-term foreign debt.

The Indian government's efforts to lower customs duties along with its initiatives to simplify import licensing will help foreign firms do business in India. India's economic reforms including amendments to the Foreign Exchange Regulations Act are expected to speed up the approval process. In April of this year, in adherence to its WTO commitments, India announced the liberalization of import of more than 800 items.

The manufacturing sector registered modest growth of 4.3 percent in FY 1999. Industry sectors that have witnessed growth in FY99 included food products, paper and paper products, rubber and plastics, coal petroleum, and metal products. Best prospects in the manufacturing sector in India for U.S. firms include: architecture, construction and engineering, airport equipment, computer software, food process and packaging equipment, laboratory equipment, medical equipment, mining equipment, metalworking machinery, oil and gas equipment, pollution control equipment, power generation equipment, and telecommunications.

Mission Goals:

The goal of this mission is promote U.S. exports by giving U.S. small- and medium-sized, new-to-market and/or new-to-export participants first-hand market information and providing access to potential business partners in India.

Mission Scenario:

The Commercial Service in New Delhi, Chennai, Mumbai and Pune will provide extensive market briefings and arrange one-on-one appointments with prescreened business contacts. Receptions will be held at each stop so that members of the delegation can meet with the key officials of the Indian government/industry in an informal setting

Timetable:

The proposed itinerary for this Matchmaker is the following:

April 3-4 New Delhi

April 5-6 Chennai

April 7-8 Mumbai

April 10-11 Pune

Matchmaker promotion will include but not be limited to the following venues: U.S. Export Assistance Centers and teams; relevant trade publications and associations, including the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM); Export America; past Matchmaker participants; and various in-house and purchased industry lists. The Matchmaker will also be listed on ITA’s internet homepage and in the Federal Register.

Recruitment will begin on or about December 2, 1999, and will close April 11, 2000. The fee for the event is US $2,500 per company. The mission target is 15 US manufacturing firms.

Criteria for Participation:

$ Relevance of the company=s business line to mission goals;

$ Potential for business in the selected markets;

$ Timely receipt of the company=s completed application and payment of applicable 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% 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:

Sam Dhir, Project Manager

Room 2012

US Department of Commerce

14th and Constitution Ave., NW

Washington, DC 20230

T. 202-482-4756

F. 202-482-0178

E-mail: Sam.Dhir@mail.doc.gov

Internet: www.ita.doc.gov/exportmatch