[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 119 (Wednesday, June 19, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31384-31385]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-15587]




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Part IX





Department of Commerce





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International Trade Administration



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International Buyer Program (Formerly Known as the Foreign Buyer 
Program); Support for Domestic Trade Shows; Notice

  Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 119 / Wednesday, June 19, 1996 / 
Notices  

[[Page 31384]]



DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration
[Docket Number 960611170-6170-01]
RIN 0625-XX07


International Buyer Program (Formerly Known as the Foreign Buyer 
Program); Support for Domestic Trade Shows

AGENCY: International Trade Administration, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice and Call for Applications for the FY 1998 International 
Buyer Program (October 1, 1997, through September 30, 1998).

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SUMMARY: This notice sets forth objectives, procedures and application 
review criteria associated with the U.S. Department of Commerce's 
International Buyer Program (IBP) to support domestic trade shows: 
Selection in the International Buyer Program for Fiscal Year (FY) 1998.
    The International Buyer Program was established to bring 
international buyers together with U.S. firms by promoting leading U.S. 
trade shows in industries with high export potential. The International 
Buyer Program emphasizes cooperation between the U.S. Department of 
Commerce (DOC) and trade show organizers to benefit U.S. firms 
exhibiting at selected events and provides practical, hands-on 
assistance to U.S. companies interested in exporting such as export 
counseling and market analysis. The assistance provided to show 
organizers includes worldwide overseas promotion of selected shows to 
potential international buyers, end-users, representatives and 
distributors. The worldwide promotion is executed through the offices 
of the Commerce Department's Commercial Service of the United States of 
America (formerly referred to as United States and Foreign Commercial 
Service) in 70 countries representing America's major trading partners, 
and also in U.S. Embassies in countries where the Commercial Service of 
the United States of America does not maintain offices.
    The Department expects to select approximately 22 shows for FY 1998 
from among applicants to the program. Shows selected for the 
International Buyer Program will provide an avenue for U.S. companies 
interested in expanding their sales into international markets. 
Successful applicants will be required to enter into a Memorandum of 
Understanding (MOU) that sets forth the specific actions to be 
performed by the show organizer and the DOC. The MOU constitutes a 
participation agreement between the DOC and the show organizer 
specifying which services are to be rendered by DOC as part of the IBP 
and, in turn, what responsibilities are agreed to be performed by the 
show organizer. Anyone wishing to apply will be sent a copy of the MOU 
along with the application package. The services to be rendered by DOC 
will be carried out by the Commercial Service of the United States of 
America unless otherwise indicated.

DATES: Applications must be received by August 5, 1996. A contribution 
of $6,000 for shows of five days or less in duration is required. For 
shows of more than five days in duration or with multiple International 
Business Centers (IBC's) the contribution is $8,000. Contributions are 
for shows selected by the IBP for inclusion in the FY 1998 program.

ADDRESSES: Export Promotion Services/International Buyer Program, 
Commercial Service of the United States of America, International Trade 
Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, Room 2116, 14th and 
Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20230. Telephone: (202) 
482-0481 (Facsimile applications will not be accepted.)

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON WHEN, WHERE, AND HOW TO APPLY: Contact Jim 
Boney, Product Manager, International Buyer Program, Room 2116, Export 
Promotion Services, U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service, International 
Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th and 
Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20230. Telephone: (202) 
482-0148 or Fax: (202) 482-0115.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The International Trade Administration (ITA) 
of the U.S. Department of Commerce is accepting applications for the 
International Buyer Program (IBP) for events taking place between 
October 1, 1997, and September 30, 1998.
    Under the IBP, the Department seeks to bring international buyers 
together with U.S. firms by selecting domestic trade shows in 
industries with high export potential and promoting them in 
international markets. Selection of a trade show is one-time, i.e., a 
trade show organizer seeking selection for a recurring event must 
submit a new application for selection for each occurrence of the 
event. If the event occurs more than once in the 12-month period 
covering this announcement, the trade show organizer must submit a 
separate application for each event.
    The Department will select approximately 22 events to support 
during this 12-month period. The Department will select those events 
that, in its judgment, most clearly meet the Department's objectives 
and selection criteria mentioned below.
    Selection indicates that the Department has found the event to be a 
leading domestic trade show appropriate for promotion in overseas 
markets by U.S. Embassies and Consulates. Selection does not constitute 
a guarantee by the U.S. Government of the show's success. Selection is 
not an endorsement of the show organizer except as to its International 
Buyer Program activities. Non-selection should not be viewed as an 
indication that the event will not be successful in the promotion of 
U.S. exports.

Exclusions

    Trade shows will not be considered that are either first-time or 
horizontal (non-industry specific) events. Annual trade shows will not 
be selected for this program more than twice in any three-year period 
(e.g., shows selected for fiscal years 1996 and 1997 are not eligible 
for inclusion in this program in fiscal year 1998, but can be 
considered in subsequent years). Notwithstanding any other provision of 
the law, no person is required to respond to, nor shall any person be 
subject to a penalty for failure to comply with a collection of 
information, subject to the requirements of the PRA, unless that 
collection of information displays a currently valid OMB Control 
Number.
    The Office of Management and Budget has approved the information 
collection requirements of the application to this program under the 
provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et 
seq.) (OMB control no. 0625-0151).
    Public reporting burden for this collection of information is 
estimated to average 3 hours per response, including the time for 
reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and 
maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the 
collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate 
or any other aspect of this collection of information, including 
suggestions for reducing this burden, to Reports Clearance Officer, 
International Trade Administration, Room 4001, U.S. Department of 
Commerce, Washington, D.C. 20230 and to the Office of Information and 
Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Paperwork 
Reduction Project (0625-0151), Washington, D.C. 20503.

General Selection Criteria

    Subject to Departmental budget and resource constraints, those 
events will

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be selected that, in the judgment of the Department, most clearly meet 
the following criteria:
    (a) Export Potential: The products and services to be promoted at 
the trade show are from U.S. industries that have high export 
potential, as determined by U.S. Department of Commerce sources, i.e., 
best prospects lists and U.S. export statistics. (Certain industries 
are rated as priorities by our domestic and international commercial 
officers in their Country Commercial Guides.)
    (b) International Interest: The trade show meets the needs of a 
significant number of overseas markets covered by the Commercial 
Service of the United States of America and corresponds to marketing 
opportunities as identified by the posts in their Country Commercial 
Guides (e.g. best prospects lists). Previous international attendance 
at the show may be used as an indicator.
    (c) Scope of the Show: The trade show offers a broad spectrum of 
U.S. made products and/or services for the subject industry. Trade 
shows with a majority of U.S. firms will be given preference.
    (d) Stature of the Show: The trade show is clearly recognized by 
the industry it covers as a leading event for the promotion of that 
industry's products and services both domestically and internationally 
and as a showplace for the latest technology or services in that 
industry.
    (e) Exhibitor Interest: There is a demonstrated interest on the 
part of U.S. exhibitors in receiving international business visitors 
during the trade show. A significant number of these exhibitors should 
be new-to-export or seeking to expand sales into additional 
international markets.
    (f) Overseas Marketing: There has been demonstrated effort made to 
market prior shows overseas. In addition, the applicant should describe 
in detail the international marketing program to be conducted for the 
event, explaining how efforts should increase individual and group 
international attendance.
    (g) Logistics: The trade show site, facilities, transportation 
services and availability of accommodations conform to the expected 
norms of an international-class trade show.
    (h) Cooperation: The applicant demonstrates a willingness to 
cooperate with the Commercial Service of the United States of America 
to fulfill the program's goals and to adhere to target dates set out in 
the Memorandum of Understanding and the event timetable, both of which 
are available from the program office (see For Further Information on 
When, Where, and How to Apply). Past experience in the IBP will be 
taken into account in evaluating current applications to the program.

    Authority: The statutory authority allowing the Department to 
provide the type of assistance contemplated under the International 
Buyer Program is 15 U.S.C. 4724.
John Klinglehut,
Deputy Director, Office of Public/Private Initiatives, The Commercial 
Services of the United States, International Trade Administration, U.S. 
Department of Commerce.
[FR Doc. 96-15587 Filed 6-18-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-FP-P