58356 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 185 / Friday, September 24, 2010 / Notices 

products and/or services, primary 

market objectives, and goals for 

participation. If the U.S. Department of 

Commerce receives an incomplete 

application, the Department may reject 

the application, request additional 

information, or take the lack of 

information into account when 

evaluating the applications. 

• Each applicant must also certify 

that the products and services it seeks 

to export through the mission are 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. 

Selection Criteria for Participation 

Selection will be based on the 

following criteria: 

• Suitability of the company’s 

products or services to the targeted 

markets. 

• Applicant’s potential for business 

in the target markets, including 

likelihood of exports resulting from the 

mission. 

• Consistency of the applicant’s goals 

and objectives with the stated scope of 

the mission. 

Diversity of company size, sector or 

subsector, and location may also be 

considered during the review process. 

Referrals from political organizations 

and any documents containing 

references to partisan political activities 

(including political contributions) will 

be removed from an applicant’s 

submission and not considered during 

the selection process. 

Timeframe for Recruitment and 

Applications 

Mission recruitment will be 

conducted in an open and public 

manner, including posting on the U.S. 

Department of Commerce trade missions 

calendar—http://www.ita.doc.gov/ 

doctm/tmcal.html—and other Internet 

Web sites, publication in domestic trade 

publications and association 

newsletters, direct outreach to the 

Department’s clients and distribution 

lists, posting in the Federal Register, 

and announcements at industry 

meetings, symposia, conferences, and 

trade shows. 

Recruitment for the mission will 

begin September 20, 2010 and conclude 

no later than January 21, 2011. 

Applications received after January 21, 

2011 will be considered only if space 

and scheduling constraints permit. We 

will inform applicants of selection 

decisions as soon as possible after 

January 21, 2011. Applications received 

after that date will be considered only 

if space and scheduling constraints 

permit. 

Contacts 

U.S. Commercial Service Domestic 

Contacts 

Trade Promotion Programs 

Anne Novak, Tel: 202–482–8178, Fax: 

202–482–9000, E-mail: 

EgyptMoroccoTM@trade.gov. 

Africa, Near East and South Asia 

Sal Tauhidi, Tel: 202–482–1322, Fax: 

202–482–5179, E-mail: 

EgyptMoroccoTM@trade.gov. 

Dated: September 21, 2010. 

Anne Novak, 

Global Trade Programs, Commercial Service. 

[FR Doc. 2010–23967 Filed 9–23–10; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–FP–P 

INTERNATIONAL TRADE 

ADMINISTRATION 

Mission Statement for Executive-Led 

Trade Mission to Jordan and Israel 

I. Mission Description 

The United States Department of 

Commerce, International Trade 

Administration, U.S. and Foreign 

Commercial Service is organizing a 

Trade Mission to Amman, Jordan, and 

Jerusalem and Tel-Aviv, Israel. A stop in 

Eilat, Israel, for companies involved in 

the renewable energies sector, is also 

scheduled. The mission will take place 

February 20–24, 2011. The delegation 

will be comprised of U.S. firms from a 

cross section of industries with market 

potential including, but not limited to, 

products, services, and technologies in 

the following sectors: healthcare 

technologies, and cleantech, (i.e. 

technologies that support increased 

productivity or profitability while also 

reducing resource consumption or 

pollution, otherwise referred to as clean 

technologies). 

The goal of the mission is to help U.S. 

companies launch or increase their 

export business in the markets of 

Jordan, Israel, and the West Bank. 

Participating firms will gain market 

information, make business and 

government contacts, solidify exporting 

strategies, and advance specific projects, 

towards the outcome of increasing U.S. 

exports. The mission, to be led by an 

executive level U.S. Department of 

Commerce official, will include 

business-to-business matchmaking 

appointments with local companies, 

networking events, and meetings and 

briefings with government and industry 

officials. The mission delegation will be 

comprised of U.S. firms that design, 

manufacture, supply, and/or integrate 

products, services, and technologies in 

the targeted sectors and in other 

appropriate industries. 

II. Commercial Setting 

Jordan 

Jordan, with a 2009 GDP of $33 

billion, and a per capita GDP of $5,300 

continues to transform itself into an 

internationally competitive marketbased economy. Education and literacy 

rates, and measures of social well-being 

are relatively high compared to other 

countries with similar incomes. 

Regarding Jordan’s international trade 

position with the U.S., our exports to 

Jordan in 2009 were valued at $1.19 

billion, representing nearly 16 percent 

of all Jordanian imports. Exports from 

Jordan to the U.S. for that same period 

were valued at $924 million, with twoway trade reaching $2.11 billion. 

Currently, under King Abdullah, Jordan 

has undertaken a major program of 

economic change, including the 

elimination of most fuel and agricultural 

subsidies, the passage of legislation 

targeting corruption, and the initiation 

of tax reforms. Key reforms have been 

undertaken in the information 

technology, pharmaceutical, tourism, 

and service sectors. In working toward 

trade liberalization, Jordan has also 

joined the World Trade Organization 

and, in 2001, it co-signed the first 

bilateral free trade agreement between 

the U.S. and an Arab country. In 2007 

the United States and Jordan signed a 

Science and Technology Cooperation 

Agreement, bolstering efforts to help 

diversify Jordan’s economy and promote 

growth. To date, duties on nearly all our 

goods and services have been 

eliminated, providing for more open 

markets in communications, 

construction, finance, health, 

transportation, and services. In addition, 

Jordan maintains a strict application of 

international standards for the 

protection of intellectual property. 

These changes and agreements facilitate 

good trading conditions between the 

U.S. and Jordan. 

In the political arena, Jordan’s 

constitutional monarchy has 

consistently followed a pro-Western 

foreign policy, maintaining close 

relations with the United States. The 

U.S. has participated with Jordan and 

Israel in trilateral development 

discussions, key issues being watersharing and security; cooperation on 

Jordan Rift Valley development; 

infrastructure projects; and trade, 

finance, and banking issues. U. S. 

development efforts continue to address 

Jordan’s health indicators, road and 

water networks, education levels, 

resource conservation, and provide 


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grants and loans for purchasing U.S. 

agricultural commodities. 

Cleantech 

Clean technologies, in general, are a 

top priority for the Government of 

Jordan. The Ministry of Environment 

and municipal government authorities 

continue to hold numerous workshops 

focusing on environmentally sustainable 

city planning & development, pollution 

control, and water and wastewater 

treatment. Renewable energies (solar, 

wind, biogas), energy resources, and 

green building are big topics as well. 

Such workshops allow international 

participants to establish direct ties with 

the environmental private sector and 

government officials in Jordan. 

Looking at the water sector, Jordan’s 

water scarcity continuously triggers 

demand for water conservation 

technology and management at all levels 

of use. Jordan is currently exploring 

ways to expand its water supply and use 

its existing water resources more 

efficiently, including through regional 

cooperation. Given Jordan’s large 

population growth, limited renewable 

water resources, and deteriorating water 

quality, the effective management and 

efficient use of water resources is 

critical. The Jordanian public water 

utility is taking on a more regulatory 

role, and upcoming opportunities for 

private sector participation and public 

private partnerships in water 

management will provide potential for 

U.S. entities specializing in utility 

management. Outsourcing of services 

for some water utilities is expected to 

become a trend in the coming years. 

This trend should also lead to 

opportunities for U.S. firms specializing 

in the water management sector, 

including engineering services, 

contracting, and treatment/desalination 

technology. Jordan’s recent receipt of 

$400 million in Millennium Challenge 

Corporation (MCC) compact funding is 

expected to generate large-scale projects 

related to water supply, leak reduction, 

collection, delivery, desalination, 

wastewater treatment and wastewater 

reuse. The MCC is also considering 

programs to help poor households 

utilize limited water supplies more 

efficiently and effectively (see http:// 

www.mcc.gov). USAID is currently 

financing several projects in Jordan 

related to water, giving priority to 

American equipment suppliers (see 

http://www.usaidjordan.org). Other 

governmental projects funded by multilateral lending institutions such as the 

World Bank also exist. 

In the energy sector, Jordan depends 

on external sources for the majority of 

its ever-growing requirements. 

Particularly in renewable energy and 

power generation, municipal gas 

systems, and oil shale development, the 

energy sector is a key growth industry. 

In 2007 the country developed a new 

energy strategy that aims to create more 

indigenous and renewable energy 

sources, including oil shale. Best 

prospects for electricity generation in 

Jordan are related to independent power 

projects (IPPs). There are tremendous 

opportunities for U.S. investors 

interested in concessions in electricity 

generation. There are also possibilities 

in the areas of solar energy, and wasteto-energy investments, electricity loss 

reduction, and oil shale extraction. In 

addition, the Government of Jordan is 

studying the idea of distributing natural 

gas coming from Egypt to Jordanian 

houses and industrial complexes. 

Implementing this idea will open up a 

new market, as Jordan currently lacks 

expertise in gas distribution networks. 

U.S. agency financed procurement 

opportunities and projects in these 

sectors are available and advertised on 

the Federal Web site: http:// 

www.fedbizopps.gov. They are expected 

to be mainly in the areas of consulting 

and technical assistance, focusing on 

renewables, energy management, and 

efficiency. The U.S. Trade & 

Development Agency, http:// 

www.ustda.gov, funds feasibility studies 

and grants in these areas as well. 

Jordan is now undergoing rapid 

expansion and investment. As Jordan 

has limited resources, conservation is a 

priority; both the Government and its 

citizens are encouraged to incorporate 

sustainable building design and 

technology in construction. The lower 

subsequent electricity and water 

consumption resulting from green 

building would allow for recouping of 

related additional investments, making 

a compelling case for the spreading of 

green build technologies in Jordan in 

the near future. Toward this goal, Jordan 

would need to import renewable energy 

technology and other building materials, 

creating additional opportunities for 

U.S. companies. 

Healthcare Equipment, Services, and 

Technologies 

Jordan has one of the strongest 

markets in the region for healthcare. 

Through 44 public hospitals and 60 

private hospitals, it provides healthcare 

equipment and services for its citizens 

and over 250,000 patients from 

neighboring countries annually. Its 

healthcare equipment industry may be 

categorized into the four subsectors of 

pharmaceuticals, medical and surgical 

equipment, lab equipment, and 

furniture. Local production of medical 

equipment is limited, and Jordan 

primarily relies on imports, which 

totaled $110 million in 2008. Imports 

are growing and expected to reach $519 

million by 2013. The end users of these 

imports are the Ministry of Health 

related facilities and the growing private 

hospitals, clinics, and physicians 

working there. Medical equipment and 

pharmaceutical products will continue 

to be the largest health related 

expenditure in Jordan, and the U.S. 

continues to be Jordan’s biggest single 

supplier of the imported equipment and 

services. It should be mentioned here 

that the Ministry of Health prohibits the 

import of used and refurbished medical 

devices into the Kingdom. 

With Jordan’s medical sector 

advancement and its newer focus on 

medical tourism, its annual number of 

served patients will increase 

significantly. Along with this rise, the 

demand for medical equipment and 

supplies will continue to grow by 38.9% 

between 2010 and 2013, from US$1.80 

billion to US$2.50 billion. This increase 

in focus and demand will require 

upgrades in both public and private 

medical services, facilities and 

institutions, and the quality of hospital 

and clinic management, and 

administration. Primary healthcare 

sector reforms will include renovating 

and adding medical diagnostic devices 

and therapeutic equipment; improving 

the quality of healthcare, healthcare 

professional training, and hospital 

services; upgrading hospital 

infrastructure; developing and 

implementing health information 

systems; and increased medical 

research. Upgrades in medical 

equipment and services will be targeted 

in Jordan’s rural areas, in line with its 

healthcare system reforms. Such market 

expansion and the ripple effect of 

exposure to U.S. products by Jordanian 

physicians who have received some 

form of medical training in the U.S. 

create many incentives for U.S. 

providers to enter the Jordanian 

markets. 

The best prospects include consulting 

in hospital administration, quality 

control and certification standards; 

training; and laboratory and hospital 

administration software. There is also a 

need for various types of equipment, 

including sophisticated laboratory 

diagnostics like C–T, MRI, and PET 

scanners, laboratory reagents, testing 

equipment, cardiology and kidney 

dialysis equipment, as well as hospital 

furniture. Recent imports of hospital 

furniture including beds, surgery rooms 

lighting, and dental equipment 

exceeded $7.5 million, with U.S. 

products accounting for nearly a quarter 


srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES
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of those imports. The total value of 

recent ambulance imports was nearly $4 

million with the U.S. products 

accounting for 60% of the purchases. 

Given the strength of the local industry, 

Jordan’s broad healthcare market will be 

rich in opportunities for U.S. firms, 

including licensing agreements and 

joint ventures with Jordanian 

companies. 

Israel 

Israel’s government is a parliamentary 

democracy with a president elected for 

a 5-year term. It has a unicameral 

legislature and its governing body is 

called the Knesset. Today Israel has 

diplomatic relations with 163 states, 

including Egypt and Jordan. 

Commitment to Israel’s security and 

well being has been a cornerstone of 

U.S. policy in the Middle East since 

Israel’s founding in 1948. Continuing 

U.S. economic and security assistance to 

Israel acknowledges these ties and 

signals U.S. commitment. 

Israel has a diversified, 

technologically advanced economy with 

substantial but decreasing government 

ownership and a strong high-tech sector 

especially in the cleantech, medical, 

and biotechnology areas. The major 

industrial sectors include hightechnology electronic and biomedical 

equipment, metal products, processed 

foods, chemicals, and transport 

equipment. Israel possesses a 

substantial service sector and is one of 

the world’s centers for diamond cutting 

and polishing. It is also a world leader 

in software development and a major 

tourist destination. The country’s strong 

commitment to economic development 

and its talented work force has led to 

economic growth rates that have 

frequently exceeded 10% annually. The 

Israeli economy has continued to grow 

at an annual growth rate of 4.2%, except 

for 2009 when it grew only 0.5%. The 

country entered the global economic 

crisis with solid fundamentals and the 

economy has shown signs of an early 

recovery, with expectations for greater 

expansion in 2010. Israel’s GDP in 2009 

was $206.8 billion and its per capita 

GDP was $28,400. 

International trade of goods and 

services in Israel grew by a healthy 

5.2% in 2008, with the United States 

being Israel’s largest single trading 

partner. In 2008, bilateral trade totaled 

$28 billion, showing an increase of 

almost 5% over 2007, even in light of 

the global economic slowdown. Israel is 

our 20th largest export market for goods. 

The two countries signed a free trade 

agreement in 1985 that progressively 

eliminated tariffs on most goods traded 

between the two countries over the 

following 10 years. Exports of U.S. 

goods to Israel totaled US$8.64 during 

the first 11 months of 2009, and 

US$13.49 billion for that same period in 

2008. With a favorable dollar exchange 

rate, U.S. equipment suppliers currently 

enjoy a price advantage over EU-based 

manufacturers. 

Trade opportunities between Israel 

and the U.S. are encouraged through the 

existence of bi-national funding 

programs, such as the Israel-U.S. Binational Industrial Research and 

Development (BIRD) initiative, available 

for U.S. companies to tap towards the 

goal of mutually beneficial industrial 

R&D projects. The BIRD Foundation, 

established by both governments in 

1977, covers up to 50 percent of project 

development and product 

commercialization costs for companies 

in the fields of communications, life 

sciences, electronics, electro-optics, 

software, homeland security, renewable 

and alternative energy and other sectors 

of the hi-tech industry. 

Cleantech 

Israel has an impressive record in a 

wide variety of cleantech areas: 

Utilization and management of water 

resources, including marginal water and 

sewage; combating of desertification; 

and utilization of solar, geothermal 

energy, and agro-ecology. The Israel 

Ministry of National Infrastructures Web 

site, http://www.mni.gov.il, lists ongoing 

and planned programs and initiatives. 

From recycling centers, to water 

desalination, to renewable energy power 

stations, to solar power stations, to wind 

turbine generators, to photovoltaic 

panels, there is much room for 

cooperation and participation. 

Energy related clean technologies in 

Israel provide opportunities for U.S.- 

Israel commercial partnerships, 

especially in the areas of renewable 

energy and natural gas. The BIRD 

Foundation Energy program, http:// 

www.birdf.com offer grants to U.S. and 

Israeli companies interested in joint 

development of clean energy 

technologies. The program is funded by 

the U.S. Department of Energy, the 

Israeli Ministry of National 

Infrastructures, and the BIRD 

Foundation. These grants help fund 

joint development in areas such as solar 

power, biofuels, advanced vehicle 

technologies, wind energy, smart grid, 

etc. The annual Eilat Renewable Energy 

conference and exhibition (http:// 

www.eilatenergy.com) provides a good 

opportunity for U.S. renewable energy 

companies to share their technologies 

with Israeli companies. 

Israel’s fresh water resources are 

already being exploited to the limit as 

the demand for water continues to grow 

with the country’s population. An 

important potential new source is 

marginal water, e.g. effluents, brackish 

water and seawater. Tertiary treatment 

of sewage water and desalination of 

brackish and seawater can provide the 

much-needed extra resources. The 

solution involves ensuring a dependable 

supply of water for domestic, industrial 

and agricultural use by the 

implementation of new government 

regulations and the construction of 

large-scale plants for desalination of 

seawater and reclamation of urban 

effluents. 

Growth in Israel’s green building 

market is stimulated by a recent 

government initiative encouraging 

sustainable building practices (i.e. 

construction related processes that are 

environmentally responsible and 

resource-efficient throughout a 

building’s life-cycle). Under this 

initiative, the government has adopted a 

green building standard. New and 

renovated residential and office 

buildings that comply with the green 

build standards will provide developers 

with a marketing advantage and will 

serve as a measure of the quality of the 

building for consumers. This 

development offers good opportunities 

for the U.S. green build technologies. 

Healthcare Equipment, Technologies, 

and Services 

Healthcare is a priority in Israel, a 

country that spends 8% of its GDP on 

healthcare. The country boasts a very 

high level of healthcare and an 

extensive infrastructure of quality 

resources that range from local 

community clinics to world-renowned 

trauma centers. Israel’s demand for 

medical equipment is steady and while 

there is no government plan in place for 

a massive investment in new devices, 

hospitals are likely to replace 

equipment on an ad-hoc basis to keep 

up with the latest, most advanced 

technologies. 

As Israel has the largest per-capita 

medical device market in the Middle 

East, and 80% of demand is supplied by 

imports, its medical equipment market 

presents good opportunities for U.S. 

manufacturers. U.S. equipment already 

accounts for 1⁄3 of medical imports. 

Sales of U.S. medical equipment to 

Israel grew by 6% in 2008 and totaled 

$174 million—about one-third of Israel’s 

$514 million medical equipment 

imports. The licensing procedures for 

American-made, USFDA approved 

medical equipment are fairly easily 

facilitated because the Israel Ministry of 

Health uses the FDA’s standards for the 

purpose of issuing licenses. A favorable 


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Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 185 / Friday, September 24, 2010 / Notices 58359 

Shekel-Dollar exchange rate is likely to 

encourage demand for U.S. made 

medical devices. 

Israel also has a high ratio of medical 

doctors to population (3.5 per 1,000). 

Many Israeli physicians are both early 

adopters of new technologies and 

developers of original technologies in 

their own right. To support this 

development, Israel has 466 life science 

companies, focusing on medical device 

and biotech. About a half of the medical 

device companies focus on therapeutic 

devices with the leading applications 

being in cardiovascular, oncology, 

neurology and neurodegenerative. There 

are also 60 pharmaceutical focused 

companies located in Israel. 

Opportunities for U.S. drug companies 

exist in the area of research, clinical 

trials and academic and professional 

exchanges. Other industry areas include 

diagnostic, imaging and monitoring 

devices. 

A well-developed private sector 

dominates the areas of dental care, eye 

laser surgery and plastic/aesthetic 

surgery and is keeping up demand for 

advanced medical instruments and 

appliances. To generate extra income, 

Israeli hospitals provide private care in 

addition to public healthcare services. 

Medical tourism is specifically a 

growing niche service that helps 

generate additional income for the 

healthcare sector and supports market 

growth. Both private healthcare and 

medical tourism are likely to demand 

further upgrades in existing systems and 

purchase of new equipment. Best sales 

prospects exist in the advanced medical 

technologies, instruments and 

disposables in the following categories: 

diagnostic imaging, equipment and 

technologies for pain management, 

physiotherapy, ozone & oxygen therapy, 

OR equipment & single use products, 

point of care and wound management 

technologies. 

The West Bank 

The West Bank has a land area of 

5,640 square kilometers (including East 

Jerusalem). Along with Gaza, it is 

collectively referred to as the 

Palestinian Territories. The area is 

located in the eastern part of the 

Palestinian territories, on the west bank 

of the Jordan River. To the west, north, 

and south, the West Bank shares borders 

with the State of Israel. To the east, 

across the Jordan River, lies the country 

of Jordan. The population in the 

Palestinian West Bank and Gaza is 4 

million. The population growth rate is 

3.9% and around 50% of the population 

is 18 years or younger. Based on 2009 

CIA World Factbook figures, the GDP in 

the West Bank was $12.79 billion and 

its 2008 per capita GDP was $2,900. Last 

year the local economy grew by 8%. 

The West Bank, the larger of the two 

areas comprising the Palestinian 

Authority (PA), experienced a limited 

revival of economic activity in 2009. 

This revival was a result of inflows of 

donor assistance, the PA’s 

implementation of economic reforms, 

improved security, and the relative 

easing of movement and access 

restrictions within the West Bank by the 

Israeli Government. The PA under 

President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime 

Minister Salam Fayyad have 

implemented a largely successful 

campaign of institutional reforms and 

economic development that has 

contributed to increased economic 

performance, supported by more than 

$3 billion in direct foreign donor 

assistance to the PA’s budget since 

2007. An easing of some Israeli 

restrictions on West Bank movement 

and access in 2008 and 2009 also 

contributed to an uptick in retail and 

entertainment activity in larger cities. 

Many American companies have 

reoriented their marketing efforts to 

acknowledge the Palestinian market as 

culturally, economically, and 

commercially distinct from the Israeli 

market. To date, dozens of American 

firms have established agencies and 

distributorships, and Palestinian 

consumers have a strong preference for 

a wide variety of U.S. goods and 

services. The U.S. Commercial Service 

in Jerusalem strongly encourages 

American exporters wishing to market 

their goods in the West Bank to use 

local Palestinian agents and distributors 

to maximize their sales exposure to the 

local market. 

Cleantech 

Three electricity distribution 

companies operate in the West Bank: 

The Jerusalem District Electric Company 

(JDECO), serving East Jerusalem, Jericho, 

Ramallah and Bethlehem; the National 

Electric Company (NEC), operating in 

the northern West Bank; and the 

Southern Electric Company (SELCO), 

serving the southern areas. These 

companies purchase electricity from the 

Israel Electric Corporation (IEC), which 

they transmit over a grid currently 

owned by the IEC. In the West Bank, 

Israel supplies 95% of the electric 

power used, and the remaining 5% 

comes from Jordan. The electricity 

systems in the West Bank require 

substantial upgrading and expansion to 

meet current demand. Over the next few 

years, infrastructure development 

projects, including upgrading of the 

electricity network, and establishment 

of a national electricity distribution 

company in the West Bank, will mean 

significant growth for the West Bank 

economy. Growth opportunities also 

exist related to a planned solar energy 

power generation plant. 

Regarding other options for local 

power generation, natural gas resources 

in the Palestinian Territories are being 

explored for possible use in the West 

Bank. The West Bank depends on oil as 

its main source of energy and 

Palestinians import all their petroleum 

products from Israel. Once an 

infrastructure to transport the gas is 

developed, natural gas resources here 

would eliminate the need for total 

reliance on these expensive imports, 

and would offer opportunities to U.S. 

companies, both in major network 

equipment as well as in diesel 

generators. 

Currently, short- and medium-term 

environment sector opportunities in the 

West Bank are small and limited to 

public projects that are undertaken by 

municipalities. These are small 

wastewater treatment or solid waste 

removal projects that are funded by 

international donor agencies like USAID 

and World Bank. However, given the 

scarcity of water resources in the region, 

long-term prospects for water treatment 

for reuse could become a viable 

prospect. Solid waste removal and 

recycling could also become a viable 

industry, following investments made 

for equipment and public education. 

The West Bank Water Supply Program 

aims to increase the amount of fresh 

water available to the population 

through the digging of new wells in the 

West Bank, construction of reservoirs 

and transmission systems to take water 

from wells to towns and cities; and 

building distribution systems to deliver 

water to homes. This program would 

create an attractive niche market for 

U.S. exporters of environmental 

technologies particularly in desalination 

and wastewater treatment. 

Healthcare Products & Services 

The size of the medical equipment 

and supplies market in the West Bank 

and Gaza has been estimated to $20 

million annually. The market is made 

up of medical capital equipment, 

medical supplies, and lab equipment 

and lab disposable supplies. There is no 

domestic production of medical 

equipment and supplies, so Palestinians 

depend 100% on imports. There are no 

import duties on U.S.-made goods 

entering the West Bank, however 

products are subject to both a purchase 

tax, and a value added tax that is 

currently 14.5%. The majority of the 

Palestinian population relies on medical 

services provided by public hospitals 


srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES
58360 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 185 / Friday, September 24, 2010 / Notices 

*An SME is defined as a firm with 500 or fewer 

employees or that otherwise qualifies as a small 

business under SBA regulations (see http:// 

www.sba.gov/services/contracting_opportunities/ 

sizestandardstopics/index.html). Parent companies, 

affiliates, and subsidiaries will be considered when 

determining business size. The dual pricing reflects 

the Commercial Service’s user fee schedule that 

became effective May 1, 2008 (see http:// 

www.export.gov/newsletter/march2008/ 

initiatives.html for additional information). 

that are run by the Palestinian Ministry 

of Health under a general health 

insurance program. The Ministry is in 

charge of providing all medical 

equipment and supplies that are paid 

for mostly through international donors 

support programs. The total number of 

public and private hospitals in West 

Bank and Gaza is 72 and total number 

of beds is 5,000. 

The U.S. share of the market is 

roughly 15% of the total, but two factors 

are expected to change the percentage: 

The falling value of the U.S. dollar vs. 

the Euro that makes U.S. exports more 

competitive and the continued support 

by USAID of healthcare projects in the 

West Bank. USAID regulations stipulate 

that funds can be spent on Americanmade equipment only, and the Agency 

has pledged $86 million for the coming 

five years to help reform the Palestinian 

healthcare sector. 

III. Mission Goals 

The goal of this trade mission is to 

facilitate greater access to the Jordanian, 

Israeli, and West Bank markets by 

providing participants with first-hand 

market information, access to 

government decision makers, and oneon-one appointments with business 

contacts, including potential agents, 

distributors, and partners. As a result of 

this mission, and in keeping with the 

goals of the U.S. Commercial Service, 

and the President’s National Export 

Initiative, companies should look 

forward to export successes in the 

region. 

IV. Mission Scenario 

The trade mission will include the 

following stops: Amman, Jordan, and 

Tel-Aviv, and Jerusalem, Israel, with a 

trip to Eilat, Israel for renewable focused 

companies. In each city, participants 

will meet with new business/ 

government contacts. Additional 

business meetings in other countries in 

the region can be arranged before or 

after the mission through the Gold Key 

Service for an added cost of $700 per 

city (exclusive of interpreter and 

transportation costs). 

V. Mission Timetable 

Saturday, February 19, 2011—U.S. 

trade mission participants arrive in 

Jordan; no-host ice breaker. 

Sunday, February 20, 2011— 

Briefings/meetings with Jordanian 

Government and industry officials. Oneon-one business appointments 

scheduled. 

Monday, February 21, 2011—Half day 

of one-on-one business appointments; 

incl. lunch. Afternoon van travel to 

Jerusalem and briefing by U.S. 

Consulate there. Reception to follow 

briefings. Transport to hotel for rest of 

evening. 

Tuesday, February 22, 2011—Morning 

briefings and one-on-one meetings by 

U.S. Commercial Service, West Bank, 

and other Government and industry 

officials to be held in Jerusalem or West 

Bank, to be determined. Working lunch 

to be followed by departures to TelAviv, and Eilat, by air, as appropriate. 

(Renewables focused companies will be 

attending Eilat Renewables Energy 

Conference and Exhibition). Transport 

to hotels in Tel-Aviv and Eilat will be 

provided for no-host rest of evening. 

Wednesday, February 23, 2010—Full 

day of briefings with Israeli Government 

and industry officials in Tel-Aviv, incl. 

no-host lunch. Eilat based companies 

will have one-on-one meetings while at 

conference. Evening is free to explore on 

your own. 

Thursday, February 24, 2010— 

Companies in Tel-Aviv will attend 

Embassy breakfast followed by 

participation in one-on-one 

appointments there. For companies 

attending Eilat Conference, morning 

flight to Israel’s Sde Dov Domestic 

Airport, and Tel-Aviv. Full/Half-day 

appointments dependent upon 

companies’ arrival times in Tel-Aviv. 

Lunch at participants’ expense. Evening 

networking reception at Ambassador’s 

residence. Participants’ debriefing 

before/at Tel-Aviv hotel, and official 

end of mission. 

Posts will assist in arranging for group 

sight-seeing for those companies 

interested in arriving before or staying 

after the mission. 

VI. Participation Requirements 

All parties interested in participating 

in the Executive-led Trade Mission to 

Jordan, and Israel must complete and 

submit an application package for 

consideration by the Department of 

Commerce. All applicants will be 

evaluated on their ability to meet certain 

conditions and best satisfy the selection 

criteria as outlined below. The objective 

is for a minimum of 12 and maximum 

of 15 companies to be selected to 

participate in the mission from the 

applicant pool. U.S. companies already 

doing business with Jordan, Israel, and 

the West Bank as well as U.S. 

companies seeking to enter these 

markets for the first time may apply. 

Fees and Expenses 

After a company has been selected to 

participate in the mission, a payment to 

the Department of Commerce in the 

form of a participation fee is required. 

The participation fee for an individual 

company representative will be $5,300 

for large firms and $3,995 for small or 

medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).*

The fee for each additional firm 

representative (large firm or SME) is 

$650. Expenses for travel, lodging, most 

meals, and incidentals will be the 

responsibility of each mission 

participant. The option to participate in 

the mission is also being offered to U.S.- 

based firms with an established 

presence in Jordan, Israel, and the West 

Bank, or neighboring countries; the 

same fee structure applies for these 

firms. 

Conditions for Participation 

• An applicant must submit a 

completed and signed mission 

application and supplemental 

application materials, including 

adequate information on the company’s 

products and/or services, primary 

market objectives, and goals for 

participation. If the Department of 

Commerce receives an incomplete 

application, the Department may reject 

the application, request additional 

information, or take the lack of 

information into account when 

evaluating the applications. 

Each applicant must also certify that 

the products and services it seeks to 

export through the mission are 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. 

Selection Criteria for Participation 

Selection will be based on the 

following criteria: 

• Suitability of the company’s 

products or services for the Jordanian, 

Israeli, and West Bank markets. 

• Applicant’s potential for business 

in Jordan, Israel, and the West Bank, 

including likelihood of exports resulting 

from the mission. 

• Consistency of the applicant’s goals 

and objectives with the stated scope of 

the mission. 

• Referrals from political 

organizations and any documents 

containing references to partisan 

political activities (including political 

contributions) will be removed from an 

applicant’s submission and not 

considered during the selection process. 


srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 185 / Friday, September 24, 2010 / Notices 58361 

VII. Timeframe for Recruitment and 

Applications 

Mission recruitment will be 

conducted in an open and public 

manner. Outreach will include posting 

on the Commerce Department trade 

mission calendar (http:// 

www.ita.doc.gov/doctm/tmcal.html) and 

other Internet Web sites, press releases 

to general and trade media, direct mail, 

broadcast fax, notices by industry trade 

associations and other multiplier 

groups, and publicity at industry 

meetings, symposia, conferences, and 

trade shows. The International Trade 

Administration will explore and 

welcome outreach assistance from other 

interested organizations, including other 

U.S. Government agencies. Recruitment 

for the mission will begin immediately 

and conclude December 27, 2010. 

Applications will be available online on 

the mission Web site at http:// 

www.export.gov/JordanIsraelWestBank. 

They can also be obtained by contacting 

the Mission Contacts listed below. 

Applications received after December 

20, 2010, will be considered if space 

and scheduling constraints permit. 

Contacts 

Karen A. Dubin, Senior International 

Trade Specialist, Global Trade 

Programs; U.S. Commercial Service, 

Washington, DC 20230. Tel: 202/482– 

3786; Fax: 202/482–7801. E-mail: 

Karen.Dubin@trade.gov. 

Jonathan Heimer, Senior Commercial 

Officer; U.S. Commercial Service, U.S. 

Embassy Tel Aviv. T: 972–3–519– 

7368; F: 972–3–510–7215. E-mail: 

Jonathan.Heimer@trade.gov. 

Sanford Owens, Senior Commercial 

Officer; U.S. Commercial Service, U.S. 

Embassy Amman, T: 962–6–590– 

6629; F: 962–6–592–0146. E-mail: 

Sanford.Owens@trade.gov. 

Karen A. Dubin, 

Global Trade Programs, U.S. Commercial 

Service, Office of Trade Missions. 

[FR Doc. 2010–23960 Filed 9–23–10; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–FP–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

International Trade Adminitration 

U.S. Franchise Trade Mission to India 

Mumbai, Hyderabad, and New Delhi 

Mission Description 

The United States Department of 

Commerce, International Trade 

Administration, U.S. Commercial 

Service (CS) is organizing a Franchise 

Trade Mission to India (Mumbai, 

Hyderabad, and New Delhi) from April 

10–15, 2011. The mission will be led by 

a senior official and will focus on 

assisting U.S. franchise companies to 

launch or increase their business in the 

Indian market. The mission will help 

participating firms gain market insight, 

make industry contacts, solidify 

business strategies, and advance specific 

projects, with the goal of increasing U.S. 

business in India. 

India is witnessing an unprecedented 

consumption boom. While the rest of 

the world still faces the impact of the 

economic slowdown, India is growing at 

approximately 8% per year, the second 

fastest growing economy in the world. 

This rapidly growing economy has led 

to a population of over 300–350 million 

middle-income Indians with high 

disposable incomes. This group 

continues to fuel the consumption 

demand in India. Mission participants 

will have a first-hand opportunity to 

assess the market potential in India and 

meet with key partners. The mission 

will include business-to-business 

matchmaking appointments with 

potential master and regional investors, 

networking events and meetings with 

potential investors. The delegation will 

be comprised of U.S. franchise 

representatives in various industry 

sectors with the potential to open or 

increase operations in India. 

Commercial Setting 

India is a rapidly changing country. 

The many factors that contribute to 

increasing consumption there include 

the emergence of a young urban elite 

population with increasing disposable 

income, changing lifestyles, mounting 

aspirations, penetration of satellite TV, 

increasing appetite for western goods, 

international exposure, options for 

quality retail space, and greater product 

choice and availability. The greater 

demand for goods in India is in turn 

generating a greater demand for 

franchises. 

The franchise market in India has the 

potential to grow to $20 billion by 2020. 

Franchising in India is growing at an 

impressive rate of approximately 30% 

per year. Presently, there are 1,200 

franchisors in India, of which 25% are 

of international origin, with U.S. 

companies the most prevalent. The top 

prospects for franchising include: Food, 

education, retail, beauty salons/ 

cosmetics, business services, apparel 

and travel/tourism. Based on these 

market trends and previous successes at 

post, we will focus on food, health/ 

wellness, and services franchisors, as 

these represent the largest growth areas 

for U.S. firms. 

• Food Franchising: The Indian food 

franchise sector is on fast-track growth 

in India. The organized food and 

beverage retail sector is worth 

approximately $280 million and is 

growing at 25–30% annually, with 

franchises constituting approximately 

17% of this growth. Food chains such 

as Yum Brands, McDonalds, Dominos, 

and Cafe ́ Coffee Day have aggressive 

expansion plans for India. Yum Brands, 

the parent company of the Kentucky 

Fried Chicken and Pizza Hut fast-food 

chains, plans to add 40–60 restaurants 

in the next 12–18 months. Dominos 

Pizza India has announced an 

investment of $55–58 million in India 

over the next three years for expanding 

its retail fast food chain and 

manufacturing capacities. 

• Services: Contributing over 50% to 

India’s GDP during FY 2009 (April 2008 

to March 2009), the services sector 

holds the key for India’s rapid economic 

growth. Education and training services, 

professional services, and hospitality 

services tops the list of growing 

subsectors in the services franchise 

sector. 

• Health & Wellness: The $520 

million Indian fitness market is growing 

at 40% annually. The Indian 

population, particularly young Indians, 

support the demand for personal fitness 

products. Middle class Indians are 

increasingly spending their disposable 

income on spa treatments, health clubs, 

and wellness programs due to a growing 

awareness to lifestyle diseases, peerinfluence and exposure to media and 

advertising. 

Now is the time for U.S. franchises to 

enter the Indian market. After years of 

advocacy efforts, in December 2009 the 

Government of India announced a 

liberalized policy that royalty 

payments/franchise fees (both one time 

and ongoing) will not need prior 

approval from Government authorities, 

including the Reserve Bank of India. In 

addition, the caps of $2 million on one 

time fees and 5% on ongoing fees have 

now been removed. With these hurdles 

cleared, more U.S. franchises will seek 

opportunities in India. 

Mission Goals 

The goals of the U.S. Franchise Trade 

Mission to India are to: (1) Introduce 

U.S. mission participants to the vibrant 

Indian market, especially in the three 

main metropolitan cities of Mumbai, 

Hyderabad and New Delhi; (2) assess 

current and future business prospects by 

establishing valuable contacts with 

prospective investors, franchisors, and 

franchisees; and (3) develop market 

knowledge and relationships leading to 

U.S. export sales. 


srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES