TAIWAN
In line with a government policy favoring renewable energy, the state-run Taiwan
Power Company (Taipower) plans to invest $43 million to build 200 wind power
turbines along the western corridor of the island over the next 10 years.

According to Taipower management, the 200 turbines will have an aggregate
capacity of 300 megawatts (MW), accounting for 1 percent of the company’s
total installed generating capacity. The first wave of 60 turbines is scheduled for
installation by 2005, for a combined capacity of 100.8 MW, at a total cost of
$12.9 million.

NEW ZEALAND
Possible power shortages in New Zealand may, in the future, be prevented
through wind technology. As studies reveal that New Zealand’s requirement for
new electricity generation installations could be sooner than expected, some
power generators are now seriously considering wind power. New Zealand’s
national grid operator, Tranpower, has warned that New Zealand may face power
shortages between 2005 and 2007 if no new generation installations are built. At
least one private-sector forecaster is warning that power shortages could be
earlier than 2005 if there is a dry year.

Electricity demand has grown by 1.8 percent annually over the last decade.
Hydropower constitutes 63 percent of the country’s total electricity generation,
with the balance comprised of gas (22 percent), geothermal (7 percent), coal (4
percent), and other (3 percent).

Meridian Energy, a state-owned power generator and retailer, announced in
October 2002 that it had plans to install two to three new wind farms. Meridian
also intends to invest in a joint irrigation and hydro generation project in the
Waitaki Valley on New Zealand’s South Island. Besides the Meridian
announcement, several other organizations have expressed interest in wind
technology, especially in the Wellington region. New Zealanders are receptive to
the concept of wind power but are generally reluctant to support developments in
their own backyard.

SWEDEN
Swedish foundries are investing in expansion, which provides market opportunities for U.S. suppliers of casting raw materials and equipment. Swedish industry uses an average of 450,000 tons of castings annually. Some 150,000 tons are
imported, mostly from Europe. The ultimate goal is to import the raw material and
cast it domestically. The foundries cast in steel, iron, aluminum, magnesium, and
copper.

There are some 200 foundries in Sweden. The annual revenue of the industry is
just over $800 million, and the industry employs some 7,000 people. Several of
the foundries are integrated parts of large consortiums, such as Volvo, Scania, and
SKF (the vehicle industry being one of the largest customers for castings).
Although the large vehicle companies have their own foundries, they also use
smaller ones for subcontracting. Another growing industry sector depending on
foundries is wind power.

In a letter to the Swedish Ministry of Industry, Employment and Communications,
the director general for Invest in Sweden Agency (ISA), Kai Hammerich, has
proposed that the Swedish government subsidize a 3G mobile phone for everyone
in Sweden. The proposal is similar to a package introduced four years ago, when
employees could rent tax subsidized PCs from their employers.

The 3G mobile scheme would boost IT investment and 3G services, thereby
supporting Ericsson and the Swedish telecommunications sector. ISA estimates
that around 650,000 phones would be placed on the market.

According to ISA, the project would mean a tax loss for the state in the
neighborhood of $390 million. The agency believes that this would be offset by
increased development and sales of telephone systems that in turn would promote
exports. In order to support the telecommunications sector, ISA proposes that the
time for new infrastructure to be in place be extended by two to three years.
License holders have already requested an extension, but the Swedish regulator,
PTS, has declined the requests so far.

The Swedish press has not reacted enthusiastically to the proposal. The argument
is that you cannot compare the PC reform with this proposal, because the
objectives are not the same. The objective for the PC reform was to increase
computer skills among Swedes, something that resulted in high computer density,
as well as high Internet and broadband penetration. In this case, the winner would
be Ericsson and its suppliers, while institutions dependent on tax revenue, such as
schools and child-care facilities, would be on the losing end.

BELGIUM
At all levels, e-learning has opened a potentially strong market for U.S. exporters.
Many U.S. institutions and companies can benefit from the development or
refinement of e-learning programs—services that Belgium needs to reduce
educational costs and develop as an information-based society. With its great
regard for American institutions, not to mention the increasing demand for
e-learning, Belgian universities and employers could be highly receptive to many of
the innovative programs offered by U.S. institutions and companies.

GERMANY
The German wind energy sector reports records year after year. Since 1999,
Germany has been the world leader in terms of installed wind power facilities and
generated wind energy. Offshore projects will dominate efforts among Germany’s
market players in the coming years. Because locations suitable for wind energy
generation are limited throughout country, there has to be a “natural” end to the
present hype. It remains to be seen how the output of existing wind power
facilities can be increased with the help of technological progress.

The German social-democratic/green government coalition is making tremendous
efforts to increase the utilization of renewable energy. Two years after the
implementation of the German Renewable Energy Sources Act, the share of
energy generated by renewable sources increased from 5 percent to 7.2 percent
(or 36 billion kWh) in 2001 and should reach 10 percent by 2010. Wind energy
ranks second among renewable energy generation with 3.5 percent or 11.5 billion
kWh, after hydro generation with 20 billion kWh. The German wind energy sector
expects to record total sales of $3.5 billion for 2002. With the exception of GE
Wind Energy, U.S. firms still play a minor role in the German wind energy market.
This situation could change, if expected technological developments lead U.S.
wind power industry players to increased competitiveness on global markets.

ROMANIA
The information and communications technology (ICT) sector is probably the
most dynamic component of the Romanian economy, and definitely one that is
receiving priority attention from the government. Over the last 10 years, the sector
has experienced impressive growth, offering Romania the latest technologies in
most branches of telecommunications. According to industry sources, estimations
for 2002 put the total size of the telecommunications services market at about
$1.8 billion. The most significant development in the sector will be the liberalization
of the market for fixed telephony, beginning on January 1,2003. This is expected
to increase competition in the whole sector, with positive effects on both the
quality and the cost of services.

Although faced with strong competition coming mostly from Western European
companies, U.S. firms are well represented in the Romanian ICT market,
especially in the IT subsector and in wireless, cable, and mobile communications.
The best prospects for U.S. exports include wireless communications equipment,
cable communications equipment and services, 3G mobile communications
(especially CDMA) equipment and services, and Internet services, including voice
over Internet protocol. Romanian imports of PCs, network interfaces, and other
communication interfaces, as well as of multimedia equipment, will continue to
come mostly from U.S. suppliers. Likewise, software for advanced IT
applications will continue to come primarily from the United States.

Need more detail?
Ask a commercial officer at one of the Department of Commerce’s posts located
around the globe. Contact information, including phone, fax and e-mail, is
available by calling the Trade Information Center at (800) USA-TRAD(E).