[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 132 (Thursday, July 10, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37031-37032]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-18121]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration
[Docket No. 970702162-7162-01]


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 1999 International 
Buyer Program (October 1, 1998, through September 30, 1999).

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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) 1999.
    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 Commercial Service of the Commerce Department in 69 countries 
representing America's major trading partners, and also in U.S. 
Embassies in countries where the Commercial Service does not maintain 
offices.
    The Commercial Service expects to select approximately 24 shows for 
FY 1999 from among applicants to the program. Successful applicants 
will be required to enter into a Memorandum of

[[Page 37032]]

Understanding (MOU) with the Commercial Service that sets forth the 
specific actions to be performed by the show organizer and the 
Commercial Service. The MOU constitutes a participation agreement 
between the Commercial Service and the show organizer specifying which 
services are to be rendered by the Commercial Service 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.

DATES: Applications must be received by August 25, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Export Promotion Services/International Buyer Program, The 
Commercial Service, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department 
of Commerce, Room 2116, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, 
DC 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, The Commercial Service, International Trade 
Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th and Constitution 
Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230. Telephone: (202) 482-0481 or Fax: 
(202) 482-0115.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Commercial Service, 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, 1998, and September 30, 1999. A 
contribution of $6,000 is required for each show selected by the IBP 
for inclusion in the FY99 program.
    Under the IBP, the Commercial Service 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 Commercial Service will select approximately 24 events to 
support during this 12-month period. The Commercial Service will select 
those events that, in its judgment, most clearly meet the Commercial 
Service's objectives and selection criteria mentioned below.
    Selection indicates that the Commercial Service 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 1997 and 1998 are not 
eligible for inclusion in this program in fiscal year 1999, but can be 
considered in subsequent years).

General Selection Criteria: Subject to the Departmental budget and 
resource constraints, those events will be selected that, in the 
judgment of the Commercial Service, 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 overseas posts 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).
    (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.
    Past experience in the IBP will be taken into account in evaluating 
current applications to the program.
    The collection of information is approved by the Office of 
Management and Budget, OMB Control Number 0625-0151. Persons are not 
required to respond to the collection of information unless it displays 
a currently valid OMB control number. 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, DC 20230 and the Office of Information and 
Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Paperwork 
Reduction Project (0625-0151), Washington, DC 20503.

    Authority: 15 U.S.C. 4724.
John Klinglehut,
Director, Office of Public/Private Initiatives, The Commercial Service, 
International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce.
[FR Doc. 97-18121 Filed 7-9-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3310-25-M