No participation fee for community delegates for U.S. Clean Technology Trade & Investment Mission
The U.S. Commerce Department's Economic Development Administration (EDA) and International Trade Administration (ITA) announced that there will not be a $2,370 participation fee for community delegates selected to attend the U.S. Clean Technology Trade & Investment Mission (Cleantech Mission) in France and Belgium. EDA has covered all costs to ease the financial burden on community delegates interested in participating to pursue foreign direct investment (FDI) opportunities for their communities. Please note that communities still will be responsible for community delegate travel costs as well as the $400 participation fee and travel costs for any additional participants. In addition, applications from community delegates are still being accepted until the few remaining spots are filled.
The week-long Cleantech Mission is being held from November 29 - December 4, 2010 and will begin in Lyon, France at Pollutec, the world's leading international tradeshow for the environment and sustainable development markets. The trip will conclude in Brussels, Belgium where U.S. communities and companies will participate in a U.S. Embassy reception, NATO cleantech roundtable, Invest in America event, and other networking sessions.
"Export promotion is a top priority for the Department of Commerce and the Obama Administration, and this mission presents a unique opportunity to advance U.S. clean technology exports while also promoting U.S. communities as attractive choices for international investment in clean technologies," said U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Brian McGowan. "EDA is pleased to collaborate with the U.S. Commercial Service on this innovative effort to advance the green economy and attract cleantech companies from around the world to do business with community participants."
"We are excited for the first joint ITA/EDA trade mission that combines representatives from local communities and U.S. companies interested in exploring cleantech and green energy opportunities in France and Belgium," said U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for International Operations Karen Zens. "This will be the first mission that concentrates on both export promotion and foreign direct investment to advance the National Export Initiative."
The Cleantech Mission will bring together a mix of U.S. community delegates and businesses to catalyze the process of connecting U.S. communities with opportunities to increase exports and attract FDI, with a particular emphasis on advancing the green economy and creating jobs in the United States.
For more information, visit export.gov/cleantechmission or contact Bryan Borlik at bborlik@eda.doc.gov.
Earlier this year, President Obama unveiled his National Export Initiative, an effort to help U.S. firms sell their goods and services abroad with a goal of doubling U.S. exports over the next five years in support of 2 million American jobs.