[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 57 (Wednesday, March 25, 1998)] [Notices] [Pages 14424-14426] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 98-6996] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE International Trade Administration [Docket No. 980319069-8069-01] Joint Projects with the U.S. Commercial Centers in Sao Paulo, Brazil; Jakarta, Indonesia; and Shanghai, People's Republic of China AGENCY: U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service, International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce. ACTION: Notice of opportunity. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce offers a unique opportunity for nonprofit trade promotion organizations to undertake a joint project with the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service (US&FCS), the export promotion arm of the U.S. Government, in Brazil, Indonesia and the People's Republic of China. This joint project features space sharing with the US&FCS in the U.S. Commercial Centers (``Commercial Centers'') in Sao Paulo, Jakarta, and Shanghai to enhance opportunities for joint project participants to work toward shared market development goals and assist U.S. companies in-country. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alan Long, Director, U.S. Commercial Center--Sao Paulo, Rua Estados Unidos, 1812, Sao Paulo, SP. 01427-002, Brazil; or AMCONGEN--Sao Paulo, Unit 3502, APO AA 34030. Tel: (55-11) 853-2811; Fax: (55-11) 3061-0718; Internet: AL[email protected]. Jon Kuehner, Director, U.S. Commercial Center--Jakarta Wisma Metropolitan II, Third Floor, JL. Jendral Sudirman, Jakarta 12920, Indonesia. Tel: (62-21) 526-2850; Fax: (62-21) 526-2855; Internet: J[email protected]. Will Center Principal Commercial Officer, U.S. Commercial Center-- Shanghai Portman Shanghai Centre, Suite 631, 1369 Nanjing West Road, Shanghai, 200040 China. Tel: (86-21) 6279-7640; Fax: (86-21) 6279-7649; Internet: WC[email protected]. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Commercial Center Concept U.S. Commercial Centers are enhanced U.S. government export promotion facilities that provide, under one roof, expert business counseling by frontline Commercial Officers, a proven array of trade promotion programs, and in-house business facilities. Commercial Centers are the only U.S. government operations that are designed physically and legally to share space on a long-term basis with nonprofit trade promotion entities who seek to build a [[Page 14425]] presence in one or more of these countries. US&FCS has authority to enter into joint projects on matters of mutual interest with public organizations and establish U.S. Commercial Centers overseas under 15 U.S.C. 1525 and 4723a. By working with other trade promotion organizations, US&FCS seeks to expand both the trade promotion resources available to U.S. companies as well as the number of U.S. companies served at the Commercial Center. Eligible Participants The U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service seeks other federal trade promotion agencies, state-local economic development agencies, nonprofit industry associations, regional and bilateral business councils, and other nonprofit trade promotion entities to share space in the Commercial Centers. Features of Commercial Centers Commercial Centers are strategically placed in the heart of the business districts of Sao Paulo, Jakarta and Shanghai to serve clients, U.S. companies, and their business partners in-country. While striving to adapt to local business conditions and opportunities, each Commercial Center provides a consistent level of service and access to core features. In accordance with the authorizing legislation, Title IV, Jobs Through Exports Act of 1992, U.S. Commercial Centers offer the following basic features:All the core US&FCS export promotion programs and services, including expert business counseling, advocacy, business-facilitation services; Long-term space-sharing for nonprofit trade promotion partners, such as other federal trade promotion agencies, state-local export development offices, and nonprofit industry associations; Fully equipped offices and executive support services (in Sao Paulo and Jakarta) for short-term use by U.S. companies and trade promotion organizations; Multipurpose rooms for conferences, meetings, technical seminars, product launches, receptions, and other business functions; Exhibit or display areas, depending on the market; Business Information Center, offering an array of information products, including up-to-the minute commercial intelligence on trade leads and opportunities, extensive market research on leading sectors, on-line/CD-ROM-based company and product locators, and from the Sao Paulo Center, accessibility from remote locations in the U.S. and Brazil; and Prime business location that enhances access to prospective business partners and clients. Joint Project Opportunity in Sao Paulo, Brazil In July 1994, the first U.S. Commercial Center was established in Sao Paulo. Since then, agencies including the U.S. Information Service, the Foreign Agricultural Service, and the Export-Import Bank have helped put the Commercial Center at the ``center'' of the bilateral commercial dialogue by holding key events such as government-to- government meetings, technical seminars, and business receptions at the Center. U.S. and Brazilian policymakers used the Sao Paulo Commercial Center as the primary vehicle for establishing the U.S.-Brazil Business Development Council (BDC), the bilateral forum for government-private sector commercial dialogue. The San Paulo Commercial Center has four fully furnished private offices (twelve square meters each) for long-term participants. Two of these offices are expected to become available in July 1998. The annual contribution to participate in this joint project covers use of a private office, and common areas--reception area and business information center (commercial library). Use of the multipurpose rooms and audio visual equipment are available on a user-fee basis. For short-term use of business facilities, please contact the Commercial Center listed under the ``For More Information'' section or call the Trade Information Center for a program brochure at 1-800-USA-TRAD. Joint Project Opportunity in Jakarta, Indonesia The late Commerce Secretary Ronald H. Brown officially opened the U.S. Commercial Center in Jakarta during the ministerial meetings of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in November 1994. Since its inception, the Commercial Center has been a vehicle for implementing local and regional events, and linking trade policy with trade promotion by organizing bilateral roundtables in conjunction with technical seminars where participating small-and medium-size U.S. companies can demonstrate technical expertise to host country government policymakers and business decisionmakers. Already positioned as long-term participants are the California Trade and Commerce Agency, Foreign Agricultural Service and its Agricutural Trade Office, and the U.S.-Asia Environmental Partnership (USAEP). The current economic challenges sweeping through Asia make the Jakarta Commercial Center a ``first-stop'' in country for U.S. companies interested in pursuing business opportunities in Indonesia and the region. Located in the Jakarta World Trade Center Complex, the Commercial Center has available one fully furnished office (twenty-five square meters). The annual contribution to participate in this joint project covers the use of the private office and common areas--a reception area and business information center (commercial library). Use of multi- purpose rooms and audio visual equipment are available on a user-fee basis. For short-term use of business facilities, please contact the post listed under the FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT or call the Trade Information Center for a program brochure at 1-800-USA-TRAD. Joint Project Opportunity in Shanghai, China The U.S. Commercial Center in Shanghai, established in July 1996, is the first export-promotion facility of its kind in the People's Republic of China. Through the Commercial Centers, U.S. state economic development offices can open representative offices in China. Maryland, Michigan and Washington are among the first states to place representatives in the Commercial Center. Shanghai is located at the mouth of the Yangtze River, the commercial lifeline of Southeast China, reinforcing this pivotal city's role as the commercial nexus that fits strategically between Beijing, the administrative capital, and the special economic zones in the southern and eastern coastal provinces. Placing the Commercial Center in Shanghai, the financial hub of all of China, positions U.S. companies to compete in the entire Chinese Economic Area, which comprise the vast markets of China, Taiwan and Hong Kong, which reverted to the Mainland in 1997. The Shanghai Commercial Center includes six private offices for long-term space sharing, two of which are currently available. Offices are fully furnished and are either 20.6 square meters or 25.3 meters in size. The annual contribution to participate in this joint project covers use of private offices and common areas--a reception area and business information center (commercial library). Use of the multipurpose room and audio visual [[Page 14426]] equipment are available on a user-fee basis. Please contact the post listed under the FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT for annual contributions and other Center-specific information or call the Trade Information Center for a program brochure at 1-800- USA-TRAD. Short-term Use of Commercial Centers by U.S. Companies or Organizations The joint project opportunity, which features long-term space for periods of one year or longer, is designed to assist nonprofit trade promotion organizations achieve long-term market development goals. The Commercial Centers in Sao Paulo and Jakarta also offer short-term use of business facilities to U.S. companies and business organizations on a user fee basis. For the latter group, the Commercial Center provides an ideal venue to achieve specific, short-term business objectives: hold meetings with prospective clients, potential agents/distributors, local staff, conduct market research, stage technical seminars or product launches, or find a local office. The length of time depends on the specific business objectives and proposals will be considered on a case-by-case basis. The broad goal of Commercial Centers is to offer clients a unique package that combines US&FCS counseling and trade programs and the convenience of using in-house business facilities-- fully equipped offices, meeting and conference rooms, exhibit/display areas--at one site. The facilities are made available to complement the core US&FCS trade promotion programs and services which are designed to help U.S. companies export. Next Steps Contact the Commercial Centers directly to propose your use of the Commercial Centers on either a long-term or short-term basis. The Directors are in the best position to suggest most effective uses of the Commercial Center resources to achieve your business goals in- country. All proposals will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis. For the convenience of clients, Commercial Center brochures will be made available through the Trade Information Center, located in Washington D.C. For general inquiries or requests for export counseling on exploring business opportunities in Brazil, Indonesia and the People's Republic of China and neighboring markets, call 1-800-USA-TRAD and ask the Trade Information Center for the nearest US&FCS domestic field office, referred to as the U.S. Export Assistance Center, for individual counseling. Marjory E. Searing, Acting Assistant Secretary and Director General of the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service. [FR Doc. 98-6996 Filed 3-24-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-FP-P