• Spring 1998 TDA Update
  
• Winter 1997 TDA Update
  
• Fall 1997 TDA Update

    What do Chicago, Cairo, Cape Town, Cancun, and Miami have in common? They are not our summer vacation destinations...they are where you need to be this fall for TDA's deal making conferences. These events are designed to bring U.S. firms together with decision makers from foreign governments and companies to discuss billions of dollars in infrastructure opportunities. The fall lineup of conferences will focus on projects in TDA's major sectors and will offer workshops that highlight the brightest project opportunities for U.S. businesses in the region or sector. They will feature a complete briefing book profiling each project, one-on-one meetings with foreign decision makers, as well as strategies and insight into some of the world's most challenging and rewarding emerging markets.

Export-Import Bank Chairman James A. Harmon, Trade and Development Agency Director J. Joseph Grandmaison, Secretary of Energy Federico Pena and OPIC President and CEO George Munoz during the announcement of a coordinated Caspian Sea Initiative involving TDA, Ex-Im, and OPIC at the "Crossroads of the World" conference in Istanbul this May. The initiative will coordinate the efforts and resources of the three trade development and finance agencies to develop and support concrete project opportunities in the Caspian region.

    In cooperation with the FAA, the Miami International Airport, and the Air Traffic Control Association, TDA is proud to participate in the 1998 Americas' Conference on Aviation (August 31-September 3) in Miami, Fla. This conference's focus is Improving Safety Through Systems Integration and Training, and will feature speakers from aviation authorities, the user community, and U.S. industry. In addition, TDA is helping to bring together more than 130 senior aviation officials from foreign civil aviation authorities and major airlines in Latin America and the Caribbean. TDA will present a special report identifying several major aviation projects in the region and invite the foreign project sponsors to discuss their modernization plans at the conference.

    As September moves on, we turn our thoughts from the skies to the rails. TDA's "Railroad Express" Symposium and Orientation Visit (September 21-23) will be coordinated in conjunction with the Rail Supply Association's Annual Convention in Chicago, Ill. This event will highlight 60 of the most lucrative railroad opportunities around the world for U.S. businesses. Approximately 50 foreign project sponsors will participate, including representatives from five continents. In addition, the foreign delegates will participate in a three-day orientation visit which will include a stop in Omaha, Neb.

    October brings our most unique conference. With the support of the Agency for International Development, TDA will organize the Egyptian Privatization Conference (October 13-15*) in Cairo to complement the efforts of the Gore-Mubarak Partnership for Growth and Development. This event will provide information regarding 50 specific, upcoming business opportunities in Egypt. Projects profiled will fall into two categories: those which will be privatized by the Egyptian government and those which are being developed by private Egyptian companies. Sectors highlighted may include telecommunications, transportation, energy and natural resources, and the environment.

    Move with us down the African continent and get "plugged-in" with TDA's upcoming Sub-Saharan Africa Telecommunications and Information Technologies Conference (October 20-22*) in Cape Town, South Africa. This conference will bring together U.S. telecommunications and IT companies with approximately 40 African officials developing projects which will include wireline and wireless voice and data transmission, utility regulation, information technology projects, management information systems for electrical utilities, intelligent transportation systems, and information resources management programs. Countries expected to participate include Angola, Botswana, Cote d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Mauritius, Namibia, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

    We wind down our fall conference schedule with Infrastructure Project Opportunities in Mexico II (November 12-14*). Held in Cancun, Mexico, this conference will highlight 50 major infrastructure projects in the energy, transportation, environmental, telecommunications, and industrial sectors. TDA will host more than 50 foreign delegates to present their projects and meet privately with U.S. business executives. This conference is a follow-up to TDA's successful Mexico Infrastructure Conference held in Kansas City in 1996.

    Mark your calendars now for these exciting events! To keep informed of the latest developments on our fall conference schedule and other networking opportunities, visit our website at www.tda.gov or call the public affairs office at 703-875-4357.

*Tentative Dates

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Opportunities Worth More Than $40 Billion In The TDA Information Resource Center

    If you missed any of TDA's conferences or business briefings, you can still obtain the resource guides which highlight the leading projects presented at each event. These comprehensive briefing books contain technical descriptions, export potential, demand for equipment and services, financing needs, contacts, and timetables for each project. In order to obtain a copy, please call the TDA Library at (703) 875-4357, fax your request in writing to (703) 875-4009, or e-mail TDA at info@tda.gov. Please note quantities are limited.

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U.S. Seeks Your Input On APEC Trade Liberation

    A trade negotiation process is now underway to seek trade liberalization for environmental technologies products and services within the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). Accordingly, the Federal Government is seeking informed advice in order to ensure the U.S. environmental sector proposals are as comprehensive as possible, and they fully reflect the interest and views of the U.S. environmental industry.

    During the APEC Trade Ministers meeting in November, 1997, fifteen sectors were identified as strategic and commercially significant sectors for trade liberalization and market opening measures such as lowering or elimination of tariffs and other trade barriers. The environmental goods and services sector is viewed as a priority sector among those identified. The U.S. Department of Commerce's Office of Environmental Technologies Exports (OETE) is serving on the APEC trade liberalization negotiating team, which includes the U.S. Trade Representative, U.S. Department of State, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the International Trade Commission. OETE is currently spearheading the effort to clear the U.S. environmental position with industry, and seeks interested parties to aid in this process.

    There is an urgent need for industry to review the U.S. Environmental Services Proposal and to comment on its content. This proposal is a list of services on which the U.S. will seek liberalization. Also, comment is needed on the Consolidated List of Products, which contains products previously proposed for trade liberalization by the U.S. and new items proposed by the other economies of APEC.

    Further, the U.S. negotiating team is pursuing information about specific barriers to trade your company has experienced, both tariff and non-tariff, in the APEC nations. These anecdotes will greatly help the U.S. negotiators shape and prove the U.S. negotiating position.

    You are strongly encouraged to take advantage of this unique opportunity to provide input in this fast-paced trade negotiation process. Your comments are needed and would strengthen the U.S. position at the negotiating table. Your prompt response would be appreciated.

    For more information, please contact the OETE at the Department of Commerce.

For Services: Sage Chandler
Sage_Chandler @ita.doc.gov
For Products: George Litman
George_Litman@ita.doc.gov
Tel: 202-482-5225
Fax: 202-482-5665

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It All Starts With A Plan
Feasibility Studies Lead to Profitable Projects

    Last year, 69 percent of TDA's obligated funds went towards the funding of feasibility studies (business plans). The studies are a critical resource for the U.S. business community's overseas investments. They provide an analysis of important technical, financial and procurement information, as well as market studies for key infrastructure projects.

    The information contained in these studies is essential to potential U.S. investors, developers, and providers of goods and services. U.S. contractor and/or project sponsor contact information is included in each study providing you the means of marketing your product or service directly to the decision maker.

    Whether you are currently doing business overseas or new to the expanding global market, TDA believes the best U.S. investment is an informed U.S. investment. Below are some recently completed feasibility studies containing millions of dollars in export opportunities waiting for you to reach out and grab them.

Electronic Toll Collection Interoperablity Study

    TDA provided a $170,000 feasibility study for the Brazilian Association of Highway Concessionaires to evaluate technological options for electronic toll collection standards. This project includes opportunities to provide electrical equipment and engineering services.

Potential U.S. exports:	$100 million
Study Prepared by:	Parsons Brinckerhoff International
Document Date:	May 1998
TDA Number:	97-529BO1 & 97-529BO2

Metropolitan Manila Industrial Air Emissions Project

Air Emissions ProjectA $337,490 grant was provided to assess a proposal by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to study the Industrial Emission Source Project in Manila. The study focuses on 20 facilities in the Metro Manila area. If the recommendations in the study are implemented through the project, it will result in an annual reduction of over 82,000 tons of pollutants. Specific needs will vary due to the diverse industries evaluated in the study; however, general needs will focus on emission controls, and pollution prevention and monitoring equipment.

Potential U.S. exports:	$60 million
Study Prepared by:	Ecology and Environment, Inc.
Document Date:	April 1998
TDA Number:	95-318BO1

Cellular Telecommunications System for Gabon: Task IX Report - Final Report

    TDA partially funded a feasibility study for the Office of Posts and Telecommunications in Gabon, Africa. The study evaluates the modernization of telephone exchanges and the establishment of a nationwide cellular telecommunications network. Export opportunities include a variety of cellular radio telephone equipment and services, switching and transmission equipment, and limited construction equipment and services.

Potential U.S. exports:	$26.7 million
Study Prepared by:	Teleconsult, Inc.
Document Date:	December 1997
TDA Number:	95-019B08

Electrolytic Steel Tinning Line

    TDA provided a $250,000 grant to partially fund this study which determines the technical and economic feasibility of constructing and installing an electrolytic steel tinning line in Romania. Mechanical, electrical, pollution control, and computer equipment will be needed as this project moves forward.

Potential U.S. exports:	$25 million
Study Prepared by:	USX Engineers and Consultants (UEC)
Document Date:	January 1997
TDA Number:	96-713B01

    These and other completed studies may be obtained from the TDA library (703/875-5578) or purchased through the National Technical Information Services. Our library staff is available from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. to assist you in finding the information you need.

    As additional studies are completed, you can find them listed in our bi-monthly publication, TDA Pipeline or on our website at www.tda.gov.

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TDA Staff Update

    This September, Country Manager Michael Newell will travel to Johannesburg, South Africa where he will be based through December, 1998. Michael will travel throughout southern Africa to broaden and expand activities in those countries. His goal is to "market" not only TDA, but the Ex-Im Bank and OPIC in the region. "Working together," says Newell, "we have a product that can effectively bring U.S. companies into this expanding growth market."

    Danielle D. Camner, former Project Analyst, has taken on the role of Country Manager in the Africa and Middle East region. She has primary responsibility for North Africa and the Middle East.

    Cybill Sigler, former Information Specialist in TDA's Information Resource Center has taken the position of Project Analyst for Africa and the Middle East. As Project Analyst, she will work primarily on projects and events relating to Sub-Saharan Africa. Cybill obtained her Bachelor of Arts, Cum Laude, from Amherst College in History and Political Science. She possesses a Master of Arts from Harvard University in Middle East Regional Studies.

    Rich Markowski joins TDA's Information Resource Center as the new Information Resource Specialist. He is responsible for maintaining TDA's library holdings and assisting visitors to the center. Rich comes to TDA from the Peace Corps where he served as a volunteer in Kyrgzstan teaching English and recreational activities. Rich graduated from Southern Connecticut State University with a degree in Sociology.

    NIS Country Manager Tanya Shamson has accepted a position with OPIC. She will take the position of Investment Insurance Officer for the Eastern Europe and NIS region.