[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 160 (Thursday, August 19, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51243-51245]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-20535]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
Trade Mission to the Port of Veracruz
AGENCY: International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.
ACTION: Notice.
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Mission Description
The United States Department of Commerce, International Trade
Administration, U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service (CS) is organizing
an executive-led trade mission to the Port of Veracruz, Mexico, for
December 6-9, 2010. This mission is intended to include representatives
of a variety of U.S. industry and service providers, particularly those
in the transportation, security, and infrastructure industries. The
mission will introduce mission participants to end-users and
prospective partners whose needs and capabilities are targeted to the
respective U.S. participant's strengths. Participating in an official
U.S. industry delegation, rather than traveling to the Port of Veracruz
independently, will enhance the companies' ability to secure meetings
with the port authorities and the private terminal operators, and
provide an opportunity to them to tour the port facilities. The mission
will include meetings with Port of Veracruz operators, industry groups,
and local companies in Veracruz interested in partnering with U.S.
companies.
Commercial Setting
The Port of Veracruz is undergoing an expansion project to increase
its efficiency and productivity. The project will take about 15-20
years to be completed, and will require investments of over US $1.2
billion. This includes the construction of new port facilities in the
Vergara Bay, just next to the current port location. This project was
listed as a strategic priority in the National Infrastructure Program
announced by President Calderon in July 2007.
In the last 2-3 years, the Port of Veracruz has invested in
modifying the current facilities to expand general cargo and container
capacity, and to increase efficiency in all port activities, including
new facilities for customs and modern gamma ray inspection and
detection equipment, security and surveillance systems, expanding
berths, building a 13-kilometer bypass for the City of Veracruz,
improving railroad access, improving intra-port transit roads and
remodeling the administration building. At the same time, private
operators have invested in modern equipment and IT systems for their
facilities.
The Port of Veracruz Integral Administration (APIVER) recently
inaugurated an industrial and logistical area of 307 hectares, located
2.5 kilometers north of the port's precinct. About 173 hectares will be
dedicated to building nine logistics centers for containers,
agricultural and bulk minerals, general cargo, intermodal transfer, an
automotive logistics center, and related services. This facility has an
estimated cost of US $600 million.
Other ongoing or upcoming projects included in the port expansion
include:
--Building new yards and wharfs for containers, automotive products and
grains;
--Building a new wharf for tourist use;
--Modernizing the surrounding infrastructure including roads, rail,
electrical, hydraulic, and sanitary systems, and IT and
telecommunications systems;
--Increasing the capacity and efficiency of the port itself through
renovated drainage, electrical, and water systems;
--Increasing vehicle handling capacity;
--Developing a new container terminal for post-Panama ships;
[[Page 51244]]
--Continuous dredging in the basin, channels and wharves to maintain an
adequate depth.
The APIVER will also invest over US $50 million in port improvement
including the construction of internal railways during 2010. Private
port operators also have their own projects for improving facilities
and efficiency. Some are waiting for the port expansion to obtain new
areas in which to expand their own facilities.
Several products and services expected to have high demand from
port authorities and operators include:
--CCTV surveillance systems;
--Consulting services for: Efficiency in logistics systems, civil
protection and safety, financial and statistical planning, waste
collection and management, hazardous materials handling, maritime
inspection, operations control, designing of refrigerated warehouses,
etc.;
--Corrosion detection/protection equipment;
--Corrosion protection systems for cars and machinery parked at the
port;
--Digital signature systems;
--Equipment for refrigerated warehouses;
--Machinery/equipment maintenance systems;
--Outdoor lighting systems;
--Pollution control systems;
--Pneumatic delivery systems;
--Software for inventory tracking;
--Used mobile railcar movers or Trackmobile;
--Waste and toxic waste management systems.
Special Opportunities
The APIVER is currently building a 19-kilometer internal rail track
that will be used by the two railroad companies servicing the port,
Kansas City Southern Mexico and Ferromex. APIVER expects to issue a
tender to grant a concession to operate this internal railway in late
2010. Companies interested in getting this concession should start
looking for information on how to participate in the bid.
The State of Veracruz Government is currently building a sports
marina that will include docks for different-sized ships, a club house,
nautical services, a hotel and tourist services. The marina is expected
to be opened early 2011, and a concession will be granted to a private
operator.
Mission Goals
The short term goals of the Trade Mission to the Port of Veracruz
are (1) To introduce U.S. companies to potential end-users, joint-
venture partners and other industry representatives in the Port of
Veracruz, and (2) to introduce U.S. companies to the industry and
government officials in Mexico City and the Port of Veracruz to learn
about various program opportunities in the port industry.
Mission Scenario
Upon arrival in Mexico City, the U.S. mission members will be
invited to a networking welcome reception at the residence of the U.S.
Ambassador, to meet key government and industry contacts in the Mexico
City area important to ports infrastructure development at the national
level. Participants will then depart to the Port of Veracruz, for a
two-day program that will include technical visits with the private
port operators and industrial groups in Veracruz, and a site visit to
the Port of Veracruz facilities and to the site where the expansion
project will be developed. During the meetings, participating companies
will have the opportunity to make a 5-8 minute presentation of their
products and services and later meet one-on-one with interested
clients/partners.
Matchmaking efforts will involve local companies in Veracruz
interested in partnering with the U.S. firms. U.S. participants will be
counseled before and after the mission by the USCS Mexico City officers
and commercial specialists. The following items are included in the
price of the trade mission:
--Pre-travel webinar briefing, covering Mexican business practices and
security.
--Welcome kit with general information about the State of Veracruz.
--Welcome reception at Ambassador's residence.
--Transportation between Mexico City and Veracruz, by bus.
--Lunch with Veracruz industry leaders.
--Networking reception with industry contacts.
--Breakfast with Port of Veracruz operators.
--Technical visit to the Port of Veracruz facilities.
--Reception with State of Veracruz Government officers, port operators
and industry contacts.
--Pre-scheduled meetings with potential partners, distributors, end
users, or local industry contacts in the Port of Veracruz.
Proposed Timetable
The mission program will begin on the evening of December 6, 2010
and continue through the evening of December 9, 2010.
December 6--Mexico City
Welcome Reception at Ambassador's Residence
December 7--Mexico City-Port of Veracruz
Breakfast on their own
Trip to the Port of Veracruz
Lunch with industry group leaders
Meetings with industry groups
Networking reception with key industry contacts
December 8--Port of Veracruz
Breakfast meeting with Port of Veracruz operators
Technical visit to the Port of Veracruz
Lunch on their own
Free time for further meetings with interested parties
Reception with Government officers, port operators and industry
contacts
December 9--Port of Veracruz
Breakfast on their own
One-on-one meetings with potential distributors/representatives
Lunch on their own
Return trip to Mexico City
Participation Requirements
All parties interested in participating in the Trade Mission to the
Port of Veracruz must complete and submit an application for
consideration by U.S. Department of Commerce. All applicants will be
evaluated on their ability to meet certain conditions and to satisfy
the selection criteria as outlined below. This mission has a goal of a
minimum of 12 and a maximum of 15 companies to be selected to
participate in the mission from the applicant pool. U.S. companies
already doing business in Mexico as well as U.S. companies seeking to
enter the market for the first time are encouraged to apply.
Fees and Expenses
After a company has been selected to participate on the mission, a
payment to U.S. Department of Commerce in the form of a participation
fee is required. The participation fee will be US $3,100 for large
firms and $2,500 for a small or medium-sized enterprise (SME) \1\ or
small organization, which will cover one representative. The fee for
each additional firm representative (large
[[Page 51245]]
firm or SME) is $350. Expenses for travel to Mexico City, lodging, most
meals, and incidentals will be the responsibility of each mission
participant. However, the roundtrip bus from Mexico City to Veracruz
will be covered by the participation fee.
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\1\ An SME is defined as a firm with 500 or fewer employees or
that otherwise qualifies as a small business under SBA regulations
(see http://www.sba.gov/services/contracting_opportunities/sizestandardstopics/index.html). Parent companies, affiliates, and
subsidiaries will be considered when determining business size. The
dual pricing reflects the Commercial Service's user fee schedule
that became effective May 1, 2008 (see http://www.export.gov/newsletter/march2008/initiatives.html for additional information).
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Conditions for Participation
An applicant must submit a completed and signed mission
application and supplemental application materials, including adequate
information on the company's products and/or services, primary market
objectives, and goals for participation. If the U.S. Department of
Commerce receives an incomplete application, the Department may reject
the application, request additional information, or take the lack of
information into account when evaluating the applications.
Each applicant must also certify that the products and
services it seeks to export through the mission are either produced in
the United States, or, if not, marketed under the name of a U.S. firm
and have at least fifty-one percent U.S. content.
Selection Criteria for Participation
Selection will be based on the following criteria:
Suitability of a company's products or services to the
mission's goals
Applicant's potential for business in Mexico, including
likelihood of exports resulting from the trade mission
Consistency of the applicant's goals and objectives with
the stated scope of the trade mission (i.e., the sectors indicated in
the mission description)
Referrals from political organizations and any documents containing
references to partisan political activities (including political
contributions) will be removed from an applicant's submission and not
considered during the selection process.
Timeframe for Recruitment and Applications
Mission recruitment will be conducted in an open and public manner,
including publication in the Federal Register, posting on the Commerce
Department trade mission calendar (http://www.ita.doc.gov/doctm/tmcal.html) and other Internet Web sites, press releases to general and
trade media, direct mail, the Maritime Technologies Team, industry
trade associations and other multiplier groups, and publicity at
industry meetings, symposia, conferences, and trade shows.
Recruitment for the mission will begin immediately and conclude no
later than October 15, 2010. CS Mexico City will review all
applications immediately after the deadline. We will inform applicants
of selection decisions as soon as possible after October 15, 2010.
Applications received after that date will be considered only if space
and scheduling constraints permit.
Contacts
U.S. Commercial Service Mexico
Contacts:
Ms. Dinah McDougall, U.S. Commercial Service Mexico, Tel: (011-52-55)
5140-2620, [email protected].
Ms. Alicia Herrera, U.S. Commercial Service Mexico, Tel: (011-52-55)
5140-2629, [email protected].
Ryan Kane,
Global Trade Programs, Commercial Service Trade Missions Program.
[FR Doc. 2010-20535 Filed 8-18-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P