[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 41 (Wednesday, March 3, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9578-9579]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-4350]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
Executive-Led Trade Mission to Colombia and Panama; Change to
Mission Dates
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 is organizing a
Trade Mission to Bogot[aacute] and Cartagena, Colombia and Panama City,
Panama, September 20-24, 2010, to be led by a senior Commerce official.
The mission will focus on helping U.S. companies launch or increase
their export business in these promising markets. It will also
[[Page 9579]]
help participating firms gain market information, make business and
industry contacts, and solidify business strategies, towards the goal
of increasing U.S. exports to the two markets. The mission will include
business-to-business matchmaking appointments with local companies, as
well as market briefings and networking events. The mission will be
comprised of U.S. firms representing a cross section of U.S. industries
with growing potential in the target markets, including, but not
limited to the following sectors: building products; computers;
components and peripherals; construction equipment; electrical power
systems; security and safety equipment; telecommunications equipment;
and travel and tourism services.
Mission Scenario
The mission will stop in Bogot[aacute], and Cartagena, Colombia,
and Panama City, Panama. In each city, participants will meet with pre-
screened potential buyers, agents, distributors, and other business
partners. They will also attend market briefings by U.S. Embassy
officials, as well as networking events offering further opportunities
to speak with local business and industry decision-makers.
Proposed Mission Timetable
Monday, September 20, 2010, Panama City, Panama, Market Briefing,
Matchmaking appointments, Networking reception.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010, Panama City, Panama and Cartagena,
Colombia, Travel to Cartagena, Market Briefing, Matchmaking
appointments.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010, Cartagena, Colombia, Matchmaking
appointments and/or site visits.
Thursday, September 23, 2010, Cartagena and Bogot[aacute],
Colombia, Travel to Bogot[aacute], Market Briefing, Matchmaking
appointments, Networking reception.
Friday, September 24, 2010, Bogot[aacute], Colombia, Matchmaking
appointments.
Participation Requirements
All parties interested in participating in the Executive-led Trade
Mission to Colombia and Panama must complete and submit an application
package for consideration by the Department of Commerce. All applicants
will be evaluated on their ability to meet certain conditions and best
satisfy the selection criteria as outlined below. A minimum of seven
U.S. companies and maximum of 15 companies will be selected to
participate in the mission from the applicant pool. U.S. companies
already doing business with Colombia and Panama as well as U.S.
companies seeking to enter these countries for the first time may
apply.
Fees and Expenses:
After a company has been selected to participate on the mission, a
payment to the Department of Commerce in the form of a participation
fee is required. The participation fee will be $4,440 for large firms
and $3,550 for a small or medium-sized enterprise (SME).\1\ The fee for
each additional firm representative (large firm or SME) is $450.
Expenses for travel, lodging, most meals, and incidentals will be the
responsibility of each mission participant. The same fee structure
applies to representatives of U.S.-based firms stationed in Colombia,
Panama, or neighboring countries.
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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 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 51 percent U.S. content of the value of the finished
product or service.
Selection Criteria for Participation:
Selection will be based on the following criteria, listed in
decreasing order of importance:
Suitability of the company's products or services for the
Colombian and Panamanian markets
Applicant's potential for business in Colombia and Panama,
including likelihood of exports resulting from the mission
Consistency of the applicant's goals and objectives with
the stated scope of the trade mission
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.
Outreach will include 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, broadcast fax, notices by industry trade
associations and other multiplier groups, and publicity at industry
meetings, symposia, conferences, and trade shows.
Recruitment will begin immediately and conclude no later than
Friday, July 23, 2010. The U.S. Department of Commerce will review all
applications immediately after the deadline. We will inform applicants
of selection decisions as soon as possible after July 23, 2010.
Applications received after the deadline will be considered only if
space and scheduling constraints permit.
Contacts:
Louis Quay, Commercial Service Trade Missions Program, Tel: 202-482-
3973, Fax: 202-482-9000, E-mail: [email protected];
Jessica Arnold, Commercial Service Trade Missions Program, Tel: 202-
482-2026, Fax: 202-482-9000, E-mail: [email protected].
Sean Timmins,
Global Trade Programs, Commercial Service Trade Missions Program.
[FR Doc. 2010-4350 Filed 3-2-10; 8:45 am]
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