Best Export Opportunities For Projects In Asia To Be Highlighted At TDA/Commerce Workshops In Four U.S. Cities March 20 - April 1

For Immediate Release

Washington - Opportunities for American firms on more than $5 billion in infrastructure and industrial projects in the financing pipeline of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) this year will be the focus of workshops sponsored by the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (TDA). The two-day workships will be held in San Jose, Calif. (March 20-21), Cleveland, Ohio (March 24-25), Philadelphia, Penn. (March 26-27), and New Orleans, La. (March 31-April 1).

"With more than $5 billion in projects on the drawing board, Asia represents one of the great opportunities for American exporters," says TDA Director J. Joseph Grandmaison. "These projects are all in various stages of financial evaluation at the Bank, representing solid opportunities with financial backing. American companies traditionally have had a mixed track record at winning contracts for these projects; this workshop will provide an invaluable opportunity for American companies to compete on a level playing field with the French, Japanese, and other international competitors that are making inroads in this lucrative market."

TDA will provide briefing books on more than $1 billion of the projects in Vietnam, Thailand, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Laos, and India. Sectors covered include water and wastewater management; telecommunications; railway, port, airport, highway and secondary road development; and power transmission and distribution.

They include:

• Bangledesh - The Ninth Power Project would finance transmission lines and substations, a national control center, distribution systems, and engineering design of open cycle and combined cycle, gas-fired power stations. The loan for the $313.7 million project is $134.4 million with a projected $200.7 million in goods needed.
• Vietnam - The nationís secondary road improvement project includes highway and rural road improvement including bridge replacement. The loan for the project is $120 million with an estimated $90-160 million in goods and $7.8 million in services required.
• Thailand - The Third Rural Telecommunications project will provide long distance telephone facilities to the rural areas in Thailand covering about 43,000 locations. The Project will involve the provision of switching and transmission equipment, outside plant and terminal equipment. The loan for the $660 million project is $100 million, with an estimated $328 million in equipment required.
• Indonesia - The Balawan, Benjermasin, Balikpapan Ports Improvement projects are estimated to cost $210 million. The ADB Loan is $120 million with an estimated $4.4 - $8.8 million in services required. The projects include expansion for passenger and cargo handling facilities, rehabilitation of berths, and the construction of a new port facility (including dregding and terminal construction).

The TDA and Commerce-sponsored workshops will include sessions on contracting and procurement opportunities with Asian Development Bank officials. In addition, attendees will be able to meet one-on-one with senior representatives of the Bank, as well as TDA, the U.S. Export-Import Bank, and the Overseas Private Investment Corporation.

"If youíre involved in international business, marketing, sales, or project development, these are sessions you wonít want to miss," says Grandmaison. "Weíve put all you need to know about working with the Asian Development Bank under one roof, providing an invaluable opportunity to learn, network, and take the steps required to be successful in winning contacts in Asia."

The U.S. Trade and Development Agency, based in Rosslyn, Va., is an independent federal agency that assists in the creation of jobs for Americans by helping U.S. companies pursue overseas business opportunities. TDA provides American firms with market entry, exposure and information through the funding of feasibility studies, technical assistance, and reverse trade missions. These efforts help American businesses establish a position in markets that are otherwise difficult to penetrate.

Details of the workshops:

• San Jose. March 20 - 21. Le Baron Hotel, 1350 N. First St. Cohosted by the California Southeast Asia Business Council. Registration is $200. Call: Todd Pavel at 510-536-1987.
• Cleveland. March 24 - 25. Key Center, 127 Public Square. Cohosted by the Cleveland World Trade Center. Registration is $150. Call David Levy at 215-881-2982.
• Philadelphia. March 26 - 27. Downtown Marriott Hotel. Cohosted by the Mid-Atlantic District Export Council and the Philadelphia U.S. Export Assistance Center. Registration is $195. Call 1-800-767-9499.
• New Orleans. March 31 - April 1. Gallier Hall. Cohosted by the Mayors International Relations and Trade Development Office. Registration is $150. Call 1-800-767-9499.

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