[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 43 (Wednesday, March 5, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10439-10440]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-5077]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE


Information and Communications Technology Business Development 
Mission

AGENCY: Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce invites U.S. companies and relevant 
parties to participate in the overseas business Development Mission 
described below. For a more complete description of the mission, obtain 
a copy of the mission statement from the contact officer indicated 
below.

Undersecretarial Business Development Mission, Belfast, Northern 
Ireland and Dublin, Republic of Ireland, April 6-11, 2003

    Department of Commerce technology-sector leaders will convene a 
senior-level business development mission to Belfast, Northern Ireland 
(N.I.) and Dublin, Republic of Ireland (R.O.I.) The focus of the 
mission will be to help U.S. companies explore business opportunities 
in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The delegation 
will include approximately 10-15 U.S.-based senior executives of small, 
medium and large U.S. firms representing the information and 
communications technology (ICT) sector. Additional opportunities may 
exist for non-government organizations and academic representatives to 
accompany the mission. Recruitment closes on March 12, 2003.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Nuala O'Connor Kelly, Chief 
Counsel for Technology, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution 
Avenue, NW., Room 4835, Washington, DC 20230, telephone 202-482-1984, 
fax 202-482-0253, or visit www.commerce.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Goals for the Mission: The Business Development Mission will 
further both U.S. commercial policy objectives and advance specific 
U.S. business interests in the ICT sector. It is focused on: 
introducing U.S. companies to the markets of Northern Ireland and the 
Republic of Ireland and promoting expanded commercial opportunities in 
these areas; assisting small and new-to-market U.S. firms in evaluating 
the market potential for their products and to gain an understanding of 
how to operate successfully in the markets of Northern Ireland and the 
Republic of Ireland; highlighting the accessibility of the market and 
the successes of U.S. businesses in the markets of Northern Ireland and 
the Republic of Ireland; and fostering dialogue between policy makers 
and academics in the technology arena in the United States, Northern 
Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland.
    Scenario for the Mission: The business Development Mission will 
provide participants with exposure to high-level business and 
government contacts and an understanding of market and technology 
trends and the commercial environment of Northern Ireland and the 
Republic of Ireland. U.S. Embassy and U.S. Consulate General officials 
will provide detailed briefings on the economic, commercial and 
political climates, and participants will receive individual counseling 
on their specific interests from local U.S. Commercial Service industry 
specialists. Meetings will be arranged as appropriate with senior 
government officials and potential business partners. Representational 
events also will be organized to provide mission participants with 
opportunities to meet Northern Ireland's and the Republic of Ireland's 
business and government representatives, as well as U.S. business 
people living and working in Northern Ireland and the Republic of 
Ireland.
    The tentative trip itinerary is as follows:

April 6--Arrive Belfast, Northern Ireland; evening events and briefing
April 7--One-on-One business Meetings in Belfast; group policy meetings
April 8--Business and Policy Meetings in Northern Ireland; Travel to 
Dublin, Republic of Ireland
April 9--One-on-One business Meetings, group policy meetings, mission 
events, and briefings in Dublin
April 10--One-on-One business Meetings, group policy meetings, mission 
events, and briefings in Dublin
April 11--Departure for the United States

    The precise schedule will depend in part on the availability of 
local government and business officials and the specific goals of the 
mission participants.

Criteria for Participation of Companies

Recruitment

    The recruitment of mission members will be conducted in an open and 
public manner utilizing Commercial Service Export Assistance Centers, 
International Trade Administration industry teams, and Technology 
Administration and National Telecommunications and Information 
Administration teams. Promotion will include publication of notice of 
the event in the Federal Register, direct mailing, e-mailing, broadcast 
fax, press releases to appropriate media, posting on the Commerce 
Department trade missions calendar--http://www.ita.doc.gov/doctm/tmcal.html--and other Internet websites, promotion at domestic 
exhibitions and conferences, and publicized announcements through a 
network of business organizations. Companies will be selected according 
to the criteria set out below. Approximately 10-15 companies will be 
selected.

Eligibility

    Participating companies must be incorporated in the United States. 
A company is eligible to participate only if the products and/or 
services that it will promote (a) are manufactured or produced in the 
United States; or (b) if manufactured or produced outside the United 
States, are marketed under the name of a U.S. firm and have U.S. 
content representing at least 51 percent

[[Page 10440]]

of the value of the finished good or service.

Selection Criteria

    Company participation will be determined on the basis of:
    [sbull] Level of seniority of designated company representatives 
and consistency of company's goals with the scope and desired outcome 
of the mission as described herein;
    [sbull] Potential for business activity in Northern Ireland and the 
Republic of Ireland as applicable;
    [sbull] Timely receipt of a completed application and participation 
agreement signed by a company officer and the participation fee; and
    [sbull] Provision of adequate information on the company's products 
and/or services, and communication of the company's primary objectives 
to facilitate appropriate matching with potential business partners.
    In addition, the Department may consider whether the company's 
overall business objectives, including those of any U.S. or overseas 
affiliates, are fully consistent with the mission's objectives. Any 
partisan political activities of an applicant, including political 
contributions, will be entirely irrelevant to the selection process.

Time Frame for Applications

    Applications for the Business Development Mission to Northern 
Ireland and the Republic of Ireland will be made available on February 
24, 2003. The fee to participate in the mission will be between 
$2,500.00 and $3,500.00 and will not cover travel or lodging expenses. 
For additional information on the Business Development Mission or to 
obtain an application, businesspersons should be referred to Nuala 
O'Connor Kelly, Chief Counsel for Technology, U.S. Department of 
Commerce, (202) 482-1984. Applications should be submitted to the Chief 
Counsel for Technology, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution 
Avenue, NW., Room 4835, Washington, DC 20230, (or via facsimile at 202-
482-0253) by March 12, 2003, 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Nuala O'Connor Kelly, U.S. 
Department of Commerce, telephone 202-482-1984.

    Dated: February 26, 2003.
Nuala O'Connor Kelly,
Chief Counsel for Technology, U.S. Department of Commerce.
[FR Doc. 03-5077 Filed 3-4-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-M