[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 53 (Friday, March 18, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14904-14906]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-5994]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
Executive-Led Trade Mission to Afghanistan
AGENCY: International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.
ACTION: Notice.
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I. Mission Description
The United States Department of Commerce's International Trade
Administration is organizing a business development trade mission to
Kabul, Afghanistan in September 2011. This mission will be led by a
Senior Commerce Department official. Targeted sectors include:
Construction (including engineering, architecture, transportation and
logistics, and infrastructure); mining (including equipment,
technology, and services); agribusiness; and information and
communications technology. The mission's goal is to help U.S. companies
explore long-term business opportunities in Afghanistan and enhance
U.S.-Afghan commercial relations by providing U.S. participants with
first-hand market information, access to government decision makers 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 the targeted sectors.
II. Commercial Setting
The Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (GIRoA) is
taking steps to develop its market economy and increase both domestic
and foreign private investment. GIRoA continues to develop legal and
administrative regulatory frameworks that will lead to a market more
conducive to trade, investment and private sector development. For
example, Afghanistan adopted an investment law that allows investments
to be 100% foreign-owned. Additionally, on October 28, 2010,
Afghanistan and Pakistan signed the Afghanistan Pakistan Transit Trade
Agreement (APTTA), allowing Afghan container trucks to drive through
Pakistan to the Indian border, and also to port cities such as Karachi.
After 30 years of war reconstruction and development efforts are
required to grow and stabilize Afghanistan's economy. The GIRoA is
committed to promoting economic development, increasing production and
earnings, promoting technology transfer, improving national prosperity
and advancing Afghans' standard of living in
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partnership with international donor agencies. GIRoA recognizes that
U.S. services, equipment and technology would enhance development of
Afghanistan's industrial sector and lead to increased productivity and
greater technical skills for Afghan citizens. International donors
continue to support Afghanistan's development; however, long-term
sustainable growth will take place through private sector development.
To support Afghanistan's private sector and promote reconstruction
efforts, GIRoA has identified domestic priority sectors needing
investment and development in both equipment and services. These
priority sectors are: construction and infrastructure, logistics and
transportation, mining, agribusiness, and information and
communications technology providers.
The economy is beginning to move from one based on state owned
enterprises and the informal economy to a more formal market economy. A
notable sign of this transition for the U.S. business community is the
establishment of an American Chamber of Commerce in Kabul in 2010.
Kabul is the capital of Afghanistan, situated in Kabul Province.
With a total metropolitan population of 2.6 million, it is also the
largest city in Afghanistan. It is the commercial center for the
country, with national Afghan businesses, associations, and GIRoA
ministries maintaining a presence in Kabul. Afghanistan's GDP per
capita is approximately $500, and has experienced double digit growth
in recent years.
The Commerce Department has supported commercial and private sector
development in Afghanistan since 2002, and posted a Senior Commercial
Officer in Kabul in June 2010.
III. Mission Goals
The goal of the mission is to provide U.S. participants with first-
hand market information, access to government decision makers and one-
on-one meetings with business contacts, including potential agents,
distributors, and partners, so that they can position themselves to
enter the Afghan market or expand their business presence in
Afghanistan. Thus, the mission seeks to:
Improve U.S. companies' understanding of commercial
opportunities in Afghanistan.
Facilitate business meetings between U.S. and Afghan
businesses to promote the development of U.S. commercial opportunities
in Afghanistan.
Introduce U.S. industry to the Afghan business community
and government leaders.
Provide GIRoA policymakers with U.S. industry feedback on
the direction of its commercial reforms.
IV. Mission Scenario
The business development mission will take place in Kabul,
Afghanistan. Participants will meet with Afghan leaders in the public
and private sector, 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. (Note that the regular workweek in
Afghanistan is Sunday through Thursday.)
V. Proposed Timetable
(The State Department will follow RSO procedure in reference to
security within and around the mission event)
Day One (weekend)
Travel Day--Depart U.S. on evening flight
Day Two
Travel Day--Participants arrive in transit city (tbd) and overnight
in pre-arranged departure from transit city
Day Three
Travel Day
Arrive in Kabul, Afghanistan (afternoon)
Evening Event
Day Four
Security Briefing
Market Briefing
One-on-One Business Appointments
Reception
Day Five
Market Briefing
Industry Sector Briefing
Meetings with Government and Industry Officials
One-on-One Business Appointments
Reception
Day Six
One-on-One Business Appointments (optional)
Travel Day--Depart for the U.S. (evening)
Day Seven
Travel Day--Arrive in U.S. (morning)
VI. Participation Requirements
This business development mission is designed for a minimum of 10
qualified companies and can accommodate a maximum of 20 participants
from the companies accepted. All parties interested in participating in
this business development mission to Kabul, Afghanistan, must submit a
completed 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 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 this market 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 is $4,800 for a
single participant for a small- or medium-sized enterprise (SME) \1\
and $5,245 for a single participant for a large firm. Participants per
company will be limited due to space constraints. The fee for each
additional participant is $2,000. Applicants are encouraged to provide
a clear business purpose and clarification of role of any additional
participants proposed to participate in the mission.
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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/contractingopportunities/owners/basics/whatismallbusiness/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.
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Interpretation services for official activities are included in the
fee. Expenses for travel, lodging, meals, and incidentals will be the
responsibility of each mission participant. Lodging and meals for each
participant will cost approximately $150 USD per day.
Conditions for Participation
An applicant must submit a completed and signed mission
application and supplemental application materials, including
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:
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Suitability of the company's products or services to the
mission goals.
Applicant's potential for business in Afghanistan.
Consistency of the applicant's goals and objectives with
the stated scope of the mission.
(Additional factors, such as diversity of company, size, type and
location, may be considered during the selection process.)
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.
VII. 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.trade.gov/trade-missions/--and other Internet Web
sites, publication in domestic trade publications and association
newsletters, direct outreach to the Department's clients and
distribution lists, publication 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 June 24, 2011, by the close of business. Applications
received after June 24, 2011, will be considered only if space and
scheduling constraints permit.
VIII. Disclaimer, Security, and Transportation
Business development mission members participate in the 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. 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 Afghanistan: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_2121.html ITA will coordinate with the U.S. Embassy in Kabul to
arrange for transportation of the mission participants to and from the
airport and lodging facilities. The primary venue for the mission has
security measures in place.
Contact: Ariana Monti Marshall, Commercial Specialist--Houston,
Market Access and Compliance, Tel: 202-482-3754, E-mail:
[email protected].
Jessica Arnold,
Global Trade Programs, U.S. & Foreign Commercial Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-5994 Filed 3-17-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-FP-P