International opportunities available for U.S. plumbing industry

WHITTIER, CALIF. -- The International Code Council’s Plumbing, Mechanical and Fuel Gas group is looking for U.S. plumbing suppliers interested in doing business in Asia. Forty percent of the world’s population has no access to personal sanitation, creating a large need for plumbing products and services.  

ICC's Plumbing, Mechanical and Fuel Gas group is urging U.S. manufacturers to consider exhibiting or sponsoring an event at the World Toilet Summit & Expo (WTSE).

Organized by the World Toilet Organization (WTO), the event will be held at the Venetian Macao-Resort-Hotel in Macau from Nov. 4-6, 2008. Macau is near Hong Kong.

The ICC’s PMG is a key partner in this year’s WTSE. It is sponsoring an educational track at the Summit and is spearheading the ICC USA Pavilion at the Expo. All U.S. firms’ booths will be located in the Pavilion.

Attendees will mainly be comprised of Southeast Asian government agencies responsible for purchasing decisions and building and construction policies and codes specifications and implementations, public health and hygiene government agencies, architects, engineers, contractors, facilities managers and distributors.

Because of the ICC USA Pavilion’s size, U.S. exhibitors will enjoy added traffic and attention. The Pavilion and its exhibitors will also receive high profile visibility and recognition during all WTSE activities, as well as in WTO and Code Council-driven pre- and post-show marketing materials.

The event was awarded U.S. Trade Fair certification, which means that the Department of Commerce supports it as an event that is safe and offers excellent opportunities for U.S. firms. Also, through U.S. Commercial Service, the U.S. Embassy in Hong Kong will be involved in WTSE.  

Through the U.S. Embassy in Hong Kong, U.S. Commercial Services is also offering several benefits to U.S. firms participating in WTSE. A free service called the Mini Buyer Delegation extends invitations to a select group of Southeast Asian buyers. The Embassy official guides these delegates around the ICC USA Pavilion, bringing them to each booth and making introductions to the exhibitors.

Another free service is a briefing that provides insights into cultural sensitivities and any other business issues related to the region. This is an important tool when doing business overseas, particularly in Southeast Asia.

The Embassy offers a fee-based service called the Gold Key Service. Embassy officials pre-screen and pre-qualify select sanitation-related prospects and U.S. firms and then coordinate meetings. As many as six meetings in one day might be scheduled. Fees are $600 for one day and $400 for a second day, which include interpreter services and meeting space. The embassy will even coordinate these meetings in surrounding Southeast Asian countries for just prior to or following the WTSE.

The final deadline for registration is Sept. 30, 2008. Additional information is available from ICC’s PMG Resource Center at 888/422-7233, 4PMG or pmgresourcecenter@iccsafe.org.