Frequently Asked Questions

Why a green industries trade mission to Europe?

Because Europe is ahead of the curve in environmental sustainability 
Europe has led the world in implementing carbon trading, renewable-energy subsidies and the other necessary legislation for getting the green industry moving. Subsidies explain why Germany has been the largest solar market for the past several years. While those in the renewable business hope subsidies will be phased out, they are necessary now for jumpstarting the business.

Environmental awareness is far higher in Europe than in the U.S. Recycling in Germany requires a working knowledge of which piece of trash goes in which bin. PC and electronics recycling is also more ingrained. Enthusiasm among the population is a tough factor to quantify, but anecdotal evidence indicates that Europeans are far more willing to go green despite some of the perceived inconveniences.

After more than a decade of tightening guidelines, Europe has made green architecture an everyday reality. In Germany and the Netherlands especially, a new generation of architects has expanded the definition of sustainable design beyond just solar panels and sod roofs. All new construction in Europe had to meet basic requirements in energy consumption. In fact, the European Union (EU) now requires all member nations to have energy-efficiency elements in building codes, and the codes must be reviewed every five years. The EU also requires energy performance certificates to be presented for all building sales or rentals.

Because the green sector is creating jobs and driving economic growth
A recent study by the World Wide Fund for Nature entitled Low Carbon Jobs for Europe: Current Opportunities and Future Prospects shows that at least 3.4 million European jobs are directly related to renewable energy, sustainable transport and energy-efficient goods and services. This compares with 2.8 million jobs in such polluting industries as mining, electricity, gas, cement, and iron and steel. It is predicted that the low-carbon economy will continue to expand in the future, whereas employment in extractive and climate-polluting industries will continue to decline. Available figures suggest that in Europe, approximately 400,000 people are employed in renewable-energy activities, some 2.1 million in efficient transport and more than 900,000 in energy-efficiency goods and services. These jobs include, for example, manufacturing, installation and maintenance of wind turbines and solar panels, and construction works to improve efficiency in existing buildings. Indirectly related jobs are estimated at approximately another 5 million.
And, according to a recent report released by The Pew Charitable Trusts entitled The Clean Energy Economy: Repowering Jobs, Businesses and Investments Across America, the findings are very similar for the U.S. Pew conducted the first-ever hard count across all 50 states of the actual jobs, companies and venture capital investments that supply the growing market demand for environmentally conscious products and services. It found that jobs in the clean-energy economy grew at a national rate of 9.1 percent, while traditional jobs grew by only 3.7 percent between 1998 and 2007. The report also found that this promising sector is poised to expand significantly, driven by increasing consumer demand, venture capital infusions, and federal and state policy reforms.

"The clean energy economy is poised for explosive growth," said Lori Grange, interim deputy director of the Pew Center on the States. "These jobs are driving economic growth and environmental sustainability at a time when America needs both. There is a potential competitive advantage for federal and state policy leaders who act now to spur jobs, businesses and investments in the clean-energy sector."

Because, despite the recession, sustainability practices are becoming integral to how businesses do business
Despite the current recession and the severe contraction in the global capital markets, leading corporations across all industry sectors increasingly are making sustainability an integral element of their business strategy. Sustainability is becoming ever more important to product development, to manufacturing, to the supply chain, to marketing, and to public relations and communications. For many well-run companies, sustainability is now a central factor in every single facet of their business. This is because there's a growing realization within the executive decision-making centers of corporations, governmental, educational and other organizational bodies across the world that a powerful win-win dynamic can be harnessed by adopting sustainable practices. The public wins, the environment wins and shareholders win because sustainability makes excellent sense purely from a bottom-line perspective.

Sources:

• How Green Could Make Europe a Tech Power, CNET News, 2008.
• Improving the Energy Performance of Buildings: Learning From the European Union and Australia, Rand Corporation, 2009.
• Low Carbon Jobs for Europe: Current Opportunities and Future Prospects, World Wide Fund for Nature, 2009.
• The Clean Energy Economy: Repowering Jobs, Businesses and Investments Across America, The Pew Charitable Trusts, 2009.
• Building Profit Through Sustainability, Bangkok Post, 2009.

Why should U.S. businesses be interested in this trade mission?

Delegates on this mission will meet with prescreened potential business partners, distributors, agents or buyers through appointments scheduled in advance for them by the U.S. Commercial Service in Europe.

Delegates will see first-hand the potential offered by this growth market and be able to explore it under the umbrella of FedEx and the U.S. Commercial Service.

Who should go on the Green Industries Trade Mission to Europe with the U.S. Commercial Service?

This mission is designed for U.S. companies interested in expanding their international sales and business. This includes both new and existing U.S. exporters interested in entering or expanding into the following areas:

• Sustainable building-construction equipment and services
• Renewable energy used in construction (solar-thermal, photovoltaic, heating pumps)
• Heating, ventilation and air conditioning
• Insulation materials and glass
• Waste treatment
• Architectural services
• Engineering services
• Environmental and alternative energy products and services

Where can one go to find out more information on the Green Industries Trade Mission to Europe?

For answers to specific questions not found on this site, please contact the FedEx Trade Promotion team via e-mail: bbbowers@fedex.com or by phone: 1.866.790.5043.

Will delegates need a passport or a visa?

Delegates will need only a passport for the trade mission.

France, Germany, Italy, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden are members of the Schengen agreement. This agreement eliminates all internal border controls between the 24-member countries. To enter one Schengen country is to gain up to 90 days of continuous travel between the member countries. U.S. citizens traveling for business or tourism are not required to have a visa for initial entry into the Schengen area, but must have a passport valid three months beyond the proposed stay.

U.S. citizens may enter the United Kingdom for up to six months for tourist purposes without a visa, but must have a valid passport.

Source:

• Schengen Fact Sheet, U.S. Department of State.
• The Countries of Schengen, AXA Assistance.

What should delegates expect to pay for this trade mission?

The trade mission participation fee is set at $1,500 per trade mission delegate. The fee includes U.S. Commercial Service matchmaking sessions between U.S. businesses and potential European business partners, distributors, agents or buyers identified for mission delegates by the U.S. Commercial Service. The fee also covers rentals for the conference rooms; individual meeting rooms; catering for meals and breaks during the mission sessions; ground transportation to and from the site visit locations; and other common mission expenses.

The participation fee does not include the cost of hotel rooms; air transportation to Paris and from or within the other European countries; meals outside of mission events; optional personal tours taken outside of the mission; and other personal expenses.

Note that the U.S. Commercial Service is negotiating special rates for delegates at the trade mission hotels. Mission delegates are responsible for making their own hotel reservations, and also their flight arrangements to Paris and from and within the other European countries. Mission delegates will be provided with additional information.

When is the deadline to apply? When is the payment deadline?

The application deadline and the payment deadline is March 12, 2010. The U.S. Commercial Service initiates the search for you for potential business partners, distributors, agents or buyers in the select European countries once the participation fee has been paid. This takes time. In addition, service providers in the select countries (hotels, ground transportation providers, and so on) require advance notice on the number of attendees. Even though delegates are responsible for making their own hotel reservations, rooms will be blocked for delegates as participation fee payments are received. 

Does the mission include cultural tours in the mission countries?

Mission participants are encouraged to work with the hotels in each country if they would like to take a tour. Tours outside of the mission site visits are not covered in the participation fee. Delegates are expected to pay the hotel or service provider directly for tours.