[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 75 (Friday, April 18, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19102-19103]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-10030]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration


Trade Mission to Bahia, Brazil, May 19-28, 1997

AGENCY: International Trade Administration, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice serves to inform the public of a trade mission to 
Bahia, Brazil to be held May 19-28, 1997 (``the mission''); provides 
interested U.S. firms with the opportunity to submit an application to 
participate in the mission; sets forth objectives, procedures, and 
selection review criteria for the mission; and requests applications. 
The recruitment and selection of private sector participants in the 
mission will be conducted in accordance with the Statement of Policy 
Governing Department of Commerce Overseas Trade Missions announced by 
Secretary Daley on March 3, 1997 and reflected herein.

DATES: Applications should be received by May 5, 1997. This mission is 
scheduled for May 19 through May 28, 1997. Applications received after 
that date will be considered only if space and scheduling constraints 
permit.

ADDRESSES: Request for and submission of applications: Applications are 
available from: Paulo Mendes, Project Officer, Department of Commerce, 
14th and Constitution Avenue, N.W., Room 3025, Washington, DC 20230; 
phone 202-482-3872; facsimile 202-482-4157. Numbers listed in this 
notice are not toll-free. An original and two copies of the required 
application materials should be sent to the Project Officer at the 
above address. Applications sent by facsimile must be immediately 
followed by submission of the original application to the Project 
Officer.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paulo Mendes, Project Officer, 202-
482-3872.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Mission Description

    As part of the outreach component of the U.S.-Brazil Business 
Development Council (BDC), ITA will organize and lead a trade mission 
to the state of Bahia, Brazil. Because of Brazil's prospects for 
continued economic growth over the next few years, the U.S. Department 
of Commerce has developed special initiatives to assist U.S. companies 
establish stronger bilateral commercial relations, including the U.S.-
Brazil BDC. The BDC was formed to develop a program of activities to 
facilitate bilateral commerce and is comprised of public and private 
sector members. A major objective of the BDC is to cultivate U.S. 
business links with non-traditional economic areas in Brazil, including 
the state of Bahia.
    The mission will introduce U.S. companies to opportunities for the 
sales of U.S. goods and services and investment in the emerging 
northeastern region of Brazil. The region is undergoing an industrial 
boom; it received over US$6 billion in foreign direct investment in 
1995 and 1997. It is expected that the state will attract over US$20 
billion in foreign direct investment between 1997 and 2012. There is a 
rapidly growing market for U.S. products and services which are often 
related to new investments in the state.
    The mission is intended to provide greater access and expose U.S. 
firms to the booming state of Bahia, Brazil. Moreover, because the 
state of Bahia is the gateway to other growing markets in the 
northeastern region of Brazil, it will provide participant companies a 
foothold in the region.
    This will be a ``horizontal'' mission. The industry focus of the 
mission will depend on the mix of companies--limited to 15--that ITA is 
able to recruit. The sectors of the state of Bahia economy which 
present best opportunities for U.S. companies include: (1) Chemicals 
and petrochemicals, (2) telecommunications, (3) tourism (hotels and 
resorts), (4) mining, (5) paper and pulp, (6) electricity, and (7) 
agribusiness.
    The itinerary of the mission should include the following stops: 
Salvador, Brasilia, Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. The exact itinerary 
will depend on the final mix of participating companies. The stops in 
cities outside the state of Bahia may be scheduled to facilitate and 
enhance the commercial activities in the target market.

Mission Goals

    The goals of the mission are to increase U.S. exports and promote 
U.S. investment in Bahia and to cultivate U.S. business links with non-
traditional economic areas in Brazil, including the state of Bahia. 
Similarly to what was done in prior missions, we will measure our 
effectiveness by actual exports and/or investments triggered by the 
trade mission. Accordingly, after the mission, we will monitor progress 
made by the companies.

Mission Scenario

    We will offer the following opportunities to the private sector 
participants: (1) Contacts with high level government officials, (2) 
one-on-

[[Page 19103]]

 one matchmaking meetings, (3) in-depth workshops on doing business in 
Brazil, and (4) all logistical support. We expect that individuals--
after participating in the mission--will feel comfortable operating in 
Brazil and, thus, will know how to establish an effective strategy to 
penetrate and/or expand their commercial presence in Brazil.

Participation Criteria

    A maximum of 15 companies will be selected to participate in the 
mission. Participants must be potential exporters to and/or investors 
in the state of Bahia or neighboring regions. We will assess a 
company's potential to penetrate the Brazilian market in light of the 
opportunities in Bahia and select the best candidates based on the 
following factors: (1) Consistency of a company's goals with the scope, 
nature and desired outcome of the mission as described herein; (2) 
Relevance of a company's business line to the plan for the mission; (3) 
Past, present and prospective business activity in Bahia (and Brazil); 
(4) Diversity of company size, type, location, demographics and 
traditional under-representation in business; and (5) Timeliness of 
completed application by company (including payment of participation 
fee).
    An applicant's partisan political activities (including political 
contributions) are entirely irrelevant to the selection process.

Endorsements/Referrals

    Third parties may nominate or endorse potential applicants, but 
companies that are nominated or endorsed must themselves submit an 
application in order to be eligible for consideration. Referrals from 
political organizations will not be considered.
    Costs; The fee to participate in the mission is $750. The 
participation fee does not cover the participants' travel, lodging or 
other personal expenses.

    Authority: 15 U.S.C. 1512.
Walter Bastian,
Director, Office of Latin America and the Caribbean.
[FR Doc. 97-10030 Filed 4-17-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DA-P