[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 55 (Friday, March 21, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13600-13601]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-7207]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Telecommunications Trade Mission to Rome

AGENCY: International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Deputy Assistant Secretary for Technology and Aerospace 
Industries will lead a telecommunications trade mission to Rome, Italy 
on May 11-14, 1997. The mission's goal is to provide first-hand market 
information and access to key Italian government officials and 
potential business partners for 7 to 15 U.S. telecom firms desiring to 
expand their presence in the Italian market. New opportunities for U.S. 
firms are being opened by the liberalization of Italian regulatory 
policy to allow competition in telecom services and related 
infrastructure.

DATES: Interested U.S. firms should apply to participate in the mission 
as soon as possible. All application requirements must be completed by 
April 11.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for further information 
should be addressed to the Project Officer, Myles Denny-Brown, Room 
4324, the Department of Commerce, Washington, D.C., 20230. Due to the 
short deadline, it is recommended that replies be by fax at (202) 482-
5834 or phone at (202) 482-0398.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The criteria for selection of mission 
participants are:
     Relevance of a company's business line to mission goals
     Timeliness of completed application by company (including 
participation fee)
     Minimum of seven, maximum of fifteen participating 
companies in mission
     Potential for business in Italy for company
    Any partisan political activities (including political 
contributions) of an applicant are entirely irrelevant to the selection 
process.
    Italy has one of the fastest growing telecommunications markets in 
Europe,

[[Page 13601]]

valued at $8 billion for telecom equipment and $20 billion for 
telecommunications services in 1996. The Deputy Assistant Secretary and 
his delegation will meet with senior officials from the Italian 
Ministry of Communications to obtain detailed information on steps the 
Government of Italy is taking to introduce telecommunications services 
competition in its market by January 1998. Similarly the delegation 
will meet with senior officials from STET/Telecom Italia to obtain in-
depth information on their privatization plans and strategic partner 
search and on opportunities for U.S. telecom firms in this regard. 
Finally participating U.S. firms will be introduced to qualified 
Italian business partners through mission events and a series of one-
on-one meetings.

    Dated: March 17, 1997.
Myles Denny-Brown,
Project Officer.
[FR Doc. 97-7207 Filed 3-20-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-P