[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 121 (Wednesday, June 24, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34362-34364]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-16764]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration


International Buyer Program; Support for Domestic Trade Shows

AGENCY: International Trade Administration, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice and Call for Applications for the FY 2000 International 
Buyer Program (October 1, 1999 through September 30, 2000).

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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 is for the International Buyer Program for Fiscal Year 2000.
    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 such as export counseling and market analysis to U.S. 
companies interested in exporting. 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 United States and Foreign Commercial Service (hereinafter 
referred to as the Commercial Service) in 70 countries representing 
America's major trading partners, and also in U.S. Embassies in 
countries where the Commercial Service does not maintain offices. The 
Department expects to select approximately 24 shows for FY2000 from 
among applicants to the program. Shows selected for the International 
Buyer Program will provide a venue for U.S. companies interested in 
expanding their sales into international markets. Successful applicants 
will be required to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that 
sets forth the specific actions to be performed by the show organizer 
and the DOC. The MOU constitutes an agreement between the

[[Page 34363]]

DOC and the show organizer specifying which services are to be rendered 
by DOC 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. The 
services to be rendered by DOC will be carried out by the Commercial 
Service.

DATES: Applications must be received on or before August 10, 1998. 
Contributions are for shows selected and promoted during the October 1, 
1999 and September 30, 2000, period.

ADDRESSES: Export Promotion Services/International Buyer Program, 
Commercial Service, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department 
of Commerce, 14th & Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230. 
Telephone: (202) 482-0146 (Facsimile applications will not be 
accepted).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jim Boney, Product Manager, 
International Buyer Program, Room 2116, Export Promotion Services, U.S. 
and Foreign Commercial Service, International Trade Administration, 
U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th & Constitution Avenue, NW., 
Washington, DC 20230. Telephone (202) 482-0146 or Fax: (202) 482-0115.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Commercial Service is accepting 
applications for the International Buyer Program (IBP) for events 
taking place between October 1, 1999 and September 30, 2000. A 
contribution of $6,000 for shows of five days or less, or $8,000 for 
shows more than five days in duration is required for the shows 
selected.
    Under the IBP, the Commercial Service seeks to bring international 
buyers together with U.S. firms by selecting and promoting in 
international markets domestic trade shows in industries with high 
export potential. 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 objective and selection criteria mentioned below.
    Selection indicates that the Department has found the event to be a 
leading international trade show appropriate for participation by U.S. 
exporting firms and 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 activities. 
Non-selection should not be viewed as a finding 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 1998 and 1999 are not eligible 
for inclusion in this program in fiscal year 2000, but can be 
considered in subsequent years.).
    The Office of Management and Budget has approved the information 
collection requirements of the application to this program under the 
provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980 (44 U.S.C. 2501 et 
seq.) (OMB control no. 0625-0151).
    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 to the Office of Information and 
Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Paperwork 
Reduction Project (0625-0151), Washington, DC 20503.

General Selection Criteria

    Subject to Departmental budget and resource constraints, those 
events will be selected that, in the judgment of the Department, 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 
domestic and international commercial officers 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 Services of the United States of 
America and corresponds to marketing opportunities as identified by the 
posts in their Country Commercial Guides (e.g. best prospect lists). 
Previous international attendance at the show may be used as an 
indicator.

(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 
United States businesses as defined in 15 U.S.C. 4724 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 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 are in the stature 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 (see ``For Further Information on When, Where, 
and How to apply''). Past experience in the IBP will be taken into

[[Page 34364]]

account in evaluating current applications to the program.

Legal Authority

    The Commercial Service has the legal authority to enter into the 
above-mentioned memorandum of understanding with the show organizer 
under the provisions of the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange 
Act of 1961, as amended (22 U.S.C. 2455(f)). The statutory authority 
for the Commercial Service to conduct the International Buyer Program 
is 15 U.S.C. 4724.
John Klingelhut,
Director, Office of Public/Private Initiatives, The Commercial Service, 
International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce.
[FR Doc. 98-16764 Filed 6-23-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-FP-P