[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 79 (Monday, April 26, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21597-21598]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-9590]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
Business Development Trade Mission to Baghdad, Iraq
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 (US&FCS) is
organizing a trade mission to Baghdad, Iraq. This mission is scheduled
for October 2010* and has been created to assist U.S. firms find
business partners and sell equipment and services in the promising
Iraqi market. This mission will be led by a Senior Commerce Department
official*. Nearly two thirds of Iraq's 112 billion dollar economy
relies on our target export industries such as petrochemical technology
and machinery. Therefore, our targeted sectors include, but are not
limited to: oil and gas (including oil field and upstream equipment,
technology, and services); construction (including engineering,
architecture, transportation, and infrastructure); and information and
communications technology. The mission's goal is to provide U.S.
participants with first-hand market information, access to government
decision makers as appropriate from the Government of Iraq (GOI), as
well as one-on-one meetings with business contacts, including potential
agents, distributors, and partners, to position themselves to enter or
expand their presence in these sectors.
Commercial Setting
The unprecedented interest of the United States-Iraq Business and
Investment Conference (USIBIC) and the successful talks from the United
States-Iraq Business Dialogue (USIBD), both held in mid-October 2009,
have opened a unique economic and investment window of opportunity in
the region. The mission will also follow Iraq's successful national
elections, held on March 7, 2010.
Iraq continues to improve its security and to build an environment
that is more conducive to trade and economic development. In November
2009, the Iraq Parliament passed an amendment to Investment Law No. 13
that would allow foreigners to own land for housing projects. It is
designed to help streamline regulations and applications for foreign
business and investment. Iraq's government has budgeted over $80
billion for infrastructure development, focusing on a number of large
projects relating to construction, highways, railways,
telecommunications, and security and defense.
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq. With a municipal population of 6.5
million (out of 29 million total in Iraq), it is the largest city in
Iraq and the second largest in the region. Iraq's gross domestic
product (GDP) grew from $57 billion in 2006 to $112 billion in 2009.
GDP per capita has surpassed $3,000 and is forecast to exceed $4,500 by
2014. The U.S. is Iraq's 3rd largest trading partner, directly behind
Syria and Turkey.
Iraq has a business culture in which deals are made on the strength
of personal contacts. This trade mission offers U.S. company
representatives an excellent introduction to a broad range of Iraq
officials as well as an opportunity to begin identifying appropriate
business partners.
Mission Goals
The goal of the trade mission is to provide U.S. participants with
first-hand market information, access to government decision makers as
appropriate and one-on-one meetings with business contacts, including
potential agents, distributors, and partners, so that they can position
themselves to enter or expand their presence in Iraq. Thus, the mission
will:
Improve U.S. industries' understanding of commercial
opportunities in Iraq.
Facilitate business meetings between U.S. and Iraqi
businesses to expand U.S. exports to Iraq and U.S. commercial
opportunities in Iraq.
Introduce U.S. industry to the Baghdad business community
and government leaders.
Mission Scenario
The Trade mission will take place in Baghdad, Iraq. Participants
will meet with new business contacts, learn about the market by
participating in Embassy briefings, and explore additional
opportunities at networking receptions. Activities will include one-on-
one meetings with pre-screened business prospects in both countries.
(Note that the regular workweek in Iraq is Sunday through Thursday.)
Proposed Mission Timetable*
Day 1--Participants arrive in pre-arranged departure city and assemble
on the preferred flight.
Day 2--Security Briefing.
Market Briefing.
One-on-One Business Appointments.
Hosted Dinner.
Day 3--Market Briefing.
Industry Sector Briefing.
Meetings with Government and Industry Officials.
One-on-One Business Appointments.
Hosted Dinner.
Day 4--Meetings with Government and Industry Officials.
Depart for the United States.
Participation Requirements
This trade mission is designed for a minimum of 15 and a maximum of
20 qualified companies. All parties interested in participating in the
trade mission to Baghdad, Iraq, must complete and submit an application
package for consideration by the U.S. Department of Commerce. All
applicants will be evaluated on their ability to meet certain
conditions and to
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best satisfy the selection criteria as outlined below. U.S. companies
already doing business in the target sectors as well as U.S. companies
seeking to enter these markets for the first time are encouraged to
apply.
Fees and Expenses
After a company has been selected to participate in the mission, a
payment to the U.S. Department of Commerce in the form of a
participation fee is required. The participation fee will be $5,200 for
a single participant for a small- or medium-sized enterprise (SME)\*\
and $6,000 for a single participant for a large firm. Participants per
company will be limited, due to space constraints. The additional
participant fee will be $3,600 per individual, (this includes the
individual person's security fee of $3,000). Applicants are encouraged
to provide justification for each additional applicant in their
application documents. Interpretation services for official activities
are included in the fee. Expenses for travel, lodging, some meals, and
incidentals will be the responsibility of each mission participant.
Delegation members will be able to take advantage of Embassy-negotiated
rates for hotel rooms.
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* An SME is defined as a firm with 500 or fewer employees or
that otherwise qualifies as 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 (for additional information see
http://www.export.gov/newsletter/march2008/initiatives.html).
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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 application.
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 the company's products or services to
Iraq's market.
Applicant's potential for business in Iraq, including
likelihood of exports resulting from the mission.
Consistency of the applicant's goals and objectives with
the stated scope of the 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 will
not be considered during the selection process.
Timeframe for Recruitment and Applications
Mission recruitment will be conducted in an open and public manner,
including posting on the U.S. Department of Commerce trade missions
calendar--http://www.ita.doc.gov/doctm/tmcal.html--and other Internet
Web sites, publication in domestic trade publications and association
newsletters, direct outreach to the Department's clients and
distribution lists, posting in the Federal Register, and announcements
at industry meetings, symposia, conferences, and trade shows.
Recruitment for the mission will begin immediately and conclude no
later than July 19, 2010, by the close of business. Applications
received after July 19, 2010, will be considered only if space and
scheduling constraints permit.
Disclaimer, Security, and Transportation
Trade mission members participate in the trade mission and
undertake related travel at their own risk and are advised to obtain
insurance accordingly. Any question regarding insurance coverage must
be resolved by the participant and its insurer of choice. The U.S.
Government does not make any representations or guarantees as to the
safety or security of participants. Companies should consult the State
Department's travel warning for Iraq: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_921.html.
The U.S. Government does not make any representations or guarantees
as to the commercial success of businesses which participate in this
trade mission. ITA will coordinate with the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad to
arrange for transportation of the mission participants to and from the
airport and hotel. The hotel that will be the primary venue for the
mission has strong security measures in place. Security will be
furnished by the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad and private hotel security.
The U.S. Government does not make any representations or guarantees as
to the commercial success of businesses which participate in this trade
mission.
FOR MORE INFORMATION AND AN APPLICATION PACKET CONTACT:
U.S. Commercial Service Domestic Contacts:
Jessica Arnold, International Trade Specialist, U.S. Commercial
Service, Washington, DC, Tel.: 202-482-2026, [email protected].
Joshua Leibowitz, International Trade Specialist, U.S. Commercial
Service, Washington, DC, Tel.: 202-482-4437, [email protected].
U.S. Commercial Service Iraq Contact:
Brian McCleary, Senior Commercial Officer, U.S. Commercial Service,
Baghdad, [email protected].
Jessica Arnold,
Global Trade Programs, Commercial Service Trade Missions Program.
[FR Doc. 2010-9590 Filed 4-23-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-FP-P