The South Korean government is actively pursuing the “new energy” industry as a core innovation project for the nation’s economic growth. The government plans to reduce greenhouse gas output by 5,500 tons and to grow the new energy industry to be a $100 billion market by 2030. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy launched the Energy Future Strategy Committee and announced in July that a total of $42 billion will be invested in the new energy industry by 2020. The government will focus mainly on growing eight areas: electric automobiles, the megawatt market, energy storage systems, energy independent islands, eco-friendly energy towns, zero-energy buildings, utilization of heat from wastewater from thermal power plants, and solar panel rental services.

The Russian government offers subsidies to makers of medications on the essential drugs list, and Pfizer and Abbott Laboratories have already launched agreements with Russian partners to allow them to enter the market.

Opportunities for Wisconsin companies that make industrial furnaces, heat exchangers, and heating and cooling units and components

Plastics is one of the fastest growing industries in India and is playing a vital role in the Indian economy. India is a growing market for plastics, consuming about 12.8 million metric tonnes (MMT) of plastics annually, compared to global consumption of 285 MMT annually. India has about 30,000 processing units (about 75 percent are small-scale) with 113,000 processing machines, creating an annual manufacturing capacity of 30 MMT.

Northeast China, a former industrial base, has experienced more difficulties than the rest of the country in the past two years amid China’s economic slowdown. To revive the region’s flagging economy, the central government is enacting a package of new measures.

Given the power of recycling to reduce greenhouse gases and energy usage and divert material from landfills, provinces and municipalities across Canada such as the cities of Toronto and Vancouver have developed long-term strategies for reducing waste and minimizing the amount sent to landfills with the ambitious goal of becoming zero-waste communities.

The majority of Australia’s 24-million-plus population lives in its cities, which are responsible for more than 80 percent of national economic output. However, the rise of knowledge-based industries and a growing population present both opportunities and challenges for Australia’s metropolitan and regional city administrators. Consequently, there is a growing need for improved infrastructure, intelligent transport systems and cities that can operate in a more efficient and environmentally friendly manner.

Argentine President Mauricio Macri has introduced a new, long-term plan to increase production of renewable energy and attract new investment in the sector. The aim is to increase renewable energy output to 8 percent of total energy output by the end of 2017, from the current figure sitting at less than 2 percent. The government plans to further extend this development, hoping to generate 10,000 MW (20 percent of total output) by 2025. In pursuit of these targets, an auction was held in May 2016 as part of a program called RenovAR, in which companies could bid on contracts to produce 1,000 MW of power. A bid of $400 million has already been submitted by Pampa Energia, with the winning bidders set to be announced on Sept. 28.

Sewage, drinking water, flood and drought: Czech water management is facing great challenges, and is preparing for major investments to meet those challenges. The European Cohesion Fund will provide around $860 million to improve Czech water infrastructure over the next five years. Water and sewage treatment plant operators may apply for subsidies. Furthermore, in order to mitigate droughts, large water storage tanks are being built.