EXTRANCHECK: POST-SHIPMENT VERIFICATION: ASTRA MICROWAVE

UNCLAS NEW DELHI 001975 SIPDIS USDOC FOR 532/OEA/M. NICKSON-D/JAY HATFIELD USDOC FOR 3131/USFCS/OIO/ANESA/KREISSL USDOC FOR 4530/MAC/ANESA/OSA ICE HQ FOR STRATEGIC INVESTIGATIONS STATE FOR EB/ESP E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: BEXP ETRD ETTC IN SUBJECT: EXTRANCHECK: POST-SHIPMENT VERIFICATION: ASTRA MICROWAVE PRODUCTS LIMITED, HYDERABAD, INDIA REF: USDOC 02927 ¶1. Unauthorized disclosure of the information provided below is prohibited by Section 12(c) of the Export Administration Act. ¶2. On June 10, 2008, Export Control Officer (ECO) Paul Cushman and BIS FSN Shailendra Srivastava conducted a Post-Shipment Verification (PSV) at Astra Microwave Products Limited (AMPL),Hyderabad. ¶3. BIS requested a PSV at AMPL, a private sector company located in Hitech City, Hyderabad. AMPL was listed as the ultimate consignee for 250 fixed resistors manufactured by MESA MW Corporation of Gilbert, Arizona. Export License: No License Required. ¶4. ECO and FSN Srivastava met with Mr. B. Jagannatha Rao, General Manager and Mr. K. Venkateswara Rao, Deputy Manager, AMPL. ¶5. AMPL representatives were not aware of BIS regulations and this was the first visit by BIS officials to their facility. Rao provided copies of the following documents relating to this transaction: MESA Commercial Invoice, AMPL Purchase Order, MESA Packing List, Air Waybill, and a receipt for duties paid to the Indian Customs Authority. ¶6. Rao confirmed the stated end-use. He explained that the fixed resistors are incorporated into transmitter/receiver modules, jammers, boosters, and repeaters manufactured by AMPL. These components are then supplied to various customers, primarily GOI's Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited and Bharat Electronics Limited. According to Rao, the entire inventory from this importation has been exhausted in the manufacturing process. ¶7. Established in 1991, AMPL designs, manufactures and markets microwave products for communication components used by the defense, space, telecommunication, and meteorology sectors. AMPL has 500 employees. A security guard is on duty at the facility 24/365. ¶8. Recommendation: Based upon a review of documents and information provided by Astra Microwave Products Limited, it appears that this controlled technology was imported by a legitimate end-user and used in a manner consistent with the Export Administration Regulations. However, because a physical inspection of the items could not be performed and these items have been transferred to other end-users, this Post-Shipment Verification remains inconclusive. WHITE