[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 118 (Friday, June 19, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33631-33632]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-16333]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration


Under Secretary David Aaron's High-Technology Trade Mission to 
Southeast Asia

AGENCY: International Trade Administration, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice serves to inform the public that Ambassador David 
L. Aaron, Under Secretary for International Trade, will lead a High-
Technology Trade Mission to Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and the 
Philippines, September 7-19, 1998. This notice also sets forth mission 
objectives, application procedures, and participation criteria.

DATES: Applications should be submitted to Alain de Sarran by Friday, 
July 31, 1998, in order to ensure sufficient time to obtain in-country 
appointments for applicants selected to participate in the mission. 
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 Alain de Sarran, Deputy Director, Office of 
International Operations, East Asia and the Pacific, at (202) 482-2422 
or via facsimile at (202) 501-6165. 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 noted above. 
Applications sent by facsimile must be immediately followed by 
submission of the original application to Mr. de Sarran at the 
following address: Office of International Operations, East Asia and 
the Pacific, Room 1223, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street and 
Constitution Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alain de Sarran or Paul Kullman at 
(202) 482-2422. Information is also available via the International 
Trade Administration's (ITA) Internet home page at ``http://
www.ita.doc.gov''

Trade Mission Description

    This trade mission is designed to lend high-profile U.S. Government 
advocacy to American companies, particularly small and medium-sized 
firms, seeking business opportunities in high-technology sectors in 
Southeast Asia, and to demonstrate U.S. support of countries in the 
region recovering from the financial crisis. The current financial 
problems affecting Southeast Asia are slowing growth in the short term. 
However, as these economies implement financial reforms, their rates of 
economic growth can be expected to resume a more dynamic pace, thereby 
providing U.S. companies with exceptional high-tech export 
opportunities.
    Government leaders of Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and the 
Philippines place many of their hopes for industrial modernization, 
increased competitiveness, and economic recovery in their high-tech 
sectors, and they often look to the United States first to help fulfill 
these hopes because U.S. companies possess cutting-edge technology and 
know-how. Guided by reporting on best export prospects from the 
Department's overseas offices, this mission endeavors to meet foreign 
demand for information technology, telecommunications and environmental 
technology.
    The mission will visit Kuala Lumpur and Penang, September 7-10 ;

[[Page 33632]]

Singapore, September 11; Manila, September 12-16; and Bangkok, 
September 16-19. The program for the mission includes embassy briefings 
on the commercial/economic environment, meetings with potential buyers, 
agents, distributors and strategic alliance partners, and engagements 
with Asian ministers and business leaders as well as American business 
executives based in Southeast Asia.

Trade Mission Goals

    The goals of the trade mission are to:
    (1) Boost U.S. high-technology exports and market share in 
Southeast Asia;
    (2) Establish and expand business relations between U.S. executives 
and host-country government and industry leaders;
    (3) Highlight U.S. leadership and competitiveness in high-
technology sectors;
    (4) Identify new and upcoming commercial high-technology 
opportunities in the region;
    (5) Achieve greater transparency and fairness in host-country 
procurement and purchasing decisions; and
    (6) Demonstrate high-visibility U.S. support for the Southeast 
Asian economies recovering from the recent economic downturn.

Criteria for Participation

    The recruitment and selection of private sector participants in 
this mission will be conducted according to the Statement of Policy 
Governing Department of Commerce Overseas Trade Missions announced by 
Secretary William Daley on March 3, 1997. Company participation will be 
determined on the basis of:
    (1) Relevance of the company's business line to the trade mission's 
goals;
    (2) Potential for sales to the selected high-technology sectors in 
the target countries;
    (3) Timeliness of company's completed application and payment of 
the participation fee;
    (4) Certification that the company's product or service is 
manufactured or produced in the United States, or, if manufactured/
produced outside the United States, the product/service is marketed 
under the name of a U.S. firm and has U.S. content representing at 
least 51 percent of the value of the finished product or service.
    Any partisan political activities of an applicant, including 
political contributions, will be entirely irrelevant to the selection 
process. Third parties may nominate or endorse potential applicants, 
but companies that are nominated or endorsed must themselves submit an 
application to be eligible for consideration. Referrals from political 
organizations will not be considered.

Costs

    The fee to participate in the trade mission is $5,500 per person. 
Each additional person from the same company costs $500. This fee does 
not cover travel or lodging expenses.

    Authority: 15 U.S.C. 1512.

    Dated: June 15, 1998.
Alice Davenport,
Regional Director, Office of East Asia and the Pacific, International 
Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.
[FR Doc. 98-16333 Filed 6-18-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-FP-P