[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 57 (Wednesday, March 25, 1998)] [Notices] [Pages 14423-14424] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 98-7724] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE International Trade Administration Business Development Mission to Eastern Caribbean AGENCY: International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce. ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: This notice serves to inform the public of a business development and trade mission to Barbados, St. Lucia, and Grenada, to be held May 3-8, 1998 (``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 interested parties to apply. 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 April 8, 1998. Applications received after that date will be considered only if space and scheduling constraints permit. The mission is scheduled for May 3-8, 1998. ADDRESSES: Request for and submission of applications: Application packets are available from the Project Officer; Ms. Rebecca Hunt, Regional Commercial Officer, U.S. Embassy--Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, phone 1-809-221-2171 ex 404, fax 1-809-688-4838. [[Page 14424]] 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: Ms. Rebecca Hunt, Project Officer, phone 1-809-221-2171 ex 404. Information is also available via the International Trade Administration's (ITA) Internet home page at http:/ /www.ita.doc.gov/doctm. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Mission Description As a follow up to President Clinton's commitment at the Bridgetown summit held in May 1997, the Department of Commerce will organize a senior level business development mission to three Eastern Caribbean countries to promote expanded commercial opportunities for U.S. firms. The Clinton Administration has long been committed to fostering and supporting the region's goals of economic diversification, sustained growth, and social stability through the creation of service and niche industries. The President's commitment to the Eastern Caribbean was clearly confirmed with the Economic Goals that were established in the Bridgetown Summit. The United States is committed to increased participation in the economies of the region through: (1) The sales of goods and services in the sectors mentioned below, and (2) joint ventures and investments to foster competitiveness in each country and throughout the region. With stops in Barbados, Grenada and St. Lucia, the mission will cover all of the Windward Islands (meetings will be held on Barbados with representatives from St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Dominica), focusing on export and business development opportunities for U.S. firms in the areas of tourism development (to include resort management, architectural/engineering services, marina development, building supplies and hotel/resort supplies), specialty and gourmet food industry development (to include food processing and packaging machinery and services, agricultural chemicals and industrial veterinary supplies) and opportunities in the business services area (financial, insurance and data processing) for small, medium and large companies through contacts with both the government and private sector. The mission itinerary will be as follows: May 3 (Sun.) Arrive Barbados May 4 (Mon.) Barbados May 5 (Tues.) Barbados Leave in pm for Grenada Arrive Grenada May 6 (Wed.) Grenada Leave in pm for St. Lucia May 7 (Thur.) St. Lucia May 8 (Fri.) Mission Concludes Criteria for Participation Individuals must be a senior level executive, appropriate to the goals of the mission, with authority to execute sales and other marketing agreements. Company participation will be determined on the basis of: --Consistency of the company's goals with the scope and desired outcome of the mission; --Relevance of a company's business line to the plan for the mission; --Past, present and prospective business activity in the Caribbean; --Diversity of company size, type, location, demographics and traditional under-representation in business. --A company's products or services must either be produced in the United States or, if not, marketed under the name of a U.S. firm and have U.S. content representing at least 51 percent of the value of the finished product/service. A national interest exception may be applied to this 51 percent rule when a senior Department official deems it appropriate. --An applicant's partisan political activities (including political contributions) are irrelevant to the selection process. The recruitment and selection of private sector participants in the mission will be conducted according to the Statement of Policy Governing Department of Commerce Overseas Trade Missions announced by Secretary Daley on March 3, 1997 and reflected herein. --Endorsements/referrals: Third parties may nominate or endorse potential applicants, but companies nominated or endorsed must themselves submit an application to be eligible for consideration. Referrals from political organizations will not be considered. Cost: Mission participants will agree to pay the mission fee of $2,100. The participation fee does not cover participants' travel, lodging or other personal expenses. Authority: 15 U.S.C. 1512. Dated: March 18, 1998. Dolores F. Harrod, Deputy Assistant Secretary, International Operations, US&Foreign Commercial Service. [FR Doc. 98-7724 Filed 3-24-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-FP-P