Market Development Cooperator Program

Meeting Clean Water Needs Worldwide

In many parts of the world, even in areas where water is plentiful, access to clean water remains a challenge. In India alone 120 million Indians lack access to safe drinking water and over 800 million have no sanitation. image: Raj Kumar, Water Citizen

Export Sales for U.S. Firms Naturally Result

For governments and other entities trying to meet public sanitation and drinking water needs, cutting-edge water technology and expertise make U.S. engineers, consultants, and suppliers popular. AWWA, the American Water Works Association, represents utilities and water supply professionals. From late 2014 through fall 2017, AWWA spearheaded efforts to help U.S. water technology companies to meet the global demand for clean water.

By going to trade shows around the world, AWWA-led delegations of U.S. firms were able to find new customers from around the world. AWWA reported nine home countries of the new customers ranging from Singapore to Bulgaria.

The experience has made AWWA and its member companies more confident. International activity after the MDCP project ended in fall of 2017 continues. As AWWA's Jane Marie Johnson noted while planning a trade mission to Latin America in 2018, "Without the MDCP seed money and ITA expertise that comes along with the award, AWWA could never have learned how to conduct trade missions. These provide opportunities to our manufacturers and consultants as they enter new markets. AWWA will continue to move forward with what we have learned from the MDCP project and develop missions for our manufacturers and consultants."

By value, U.S. firms sold more to new customers in India than any other market. This comes as no surprise given India's population, but also given AWWA's investment in the market. AWWA opened an office in Mumbai in 2015 as part of its MDCP project. Indian water-works officials have benefitted significantly from the technical exchanges with U.S. water professionals. This engagement has naturally led to export of valuable U.S. technology and consulting services totaling almost $12 million.

Post-MDCP Sustainability

While U.S. firms have benefitted directly from the effort, the most enduring achievment of the project may be the establishment and continued operation of AWWA's Mumbai office. Post-MDCP-project-sustainability is something ITA looks for when selecting MDCP partners.

AWWA's Mumbai office joins other new MDCP-assisted footprints abroad by U.S. associations and professional societies. Within months of the Mumbai office opening, MDCP partners AMT and IAPMO opened facilities in Brazil and Indonesia. These ITA partnerships have an excellent track record for post-MDCP sustainability. Twelve (12) such "footprints" abroad that ITA helped to establish through MDCP projects over ten (10) years ago are still in operation today.

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