[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 79 (Thursday, April 24, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 20116]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-10113]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration


Overseas Trade Mission

AGENCY: International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce invites U.S. companies to apply to 
participate in the below described overseas trade mission. For a more 
complete description of the trade mission, obtain a copy of the mission 
statement from the contact officer indicated for this mission below.

Business Development Mission to Romania and Bulgaria

Bucharest and Sofia; July 14-19, 2003.

    Deputy Secretary of Commerce Samuel Bodman, with Assistant 
Secretary and Director General of the U.S. and Foreign Commercial 
Service Maria Cino and Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Market 
Access and Compliance William Lash, will lead a senior-level business 
development mission to help U.S. companies explore business 
opportunities in Romania and Bulgaria. The delegation will include 10-
15 U.S.-based senior executives of small, medium and large U.S. firms 
representing, but not limited to, the following sectors: automotive 
parts, building products, information technology, telecommunications, 
defense industry, energy, medical products, environmental technologies, 
and tourism infrastructure.

Recruitment closes on May 9, 2003.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Jennifer Andberg, Office of 
Business Liaison, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution 
Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230, telephone 202-482-1360, fax 202-482-
4054, or e-mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Goals for the Mission

    The mission will further both U.S. commercial policy objectives and 
advance specific business interests. It is intended to: Assist 
individual U.S. companies to pursue business opportunities by 
introducing them to government decision-making officials and to 
potential business partners; assist new-to-market firms to evaluate the 
market potential for their products and gain an understanding of how to 
operate successfully in Romania and Bulgaria; enhance the dialogue 
between government and industry on issues affecting the development of 
commercial relations; promote U.S. and Romanian and Bulgarian trade and 
investment and, as a result, contribute to the political and economic 
stability of important American allies; and assist U.S. companies to 
take advantage of opportunities arising from NATO accession.

Scenario for the Mission

    American Embassy officials will provide a detailed briefing on the 
economic, commercial and political climate, and participants will 
receive individual counseling on their specific interests from the in-
country U.S. Commercial Service industry specialists. Meetings will be 
arranged as appropriate with senior government officials and potential 
business partners. Networking events also will be organized to provide 
opportunities to meet Romanian and Bulgarian business and government 
representatives, as well as U.S. business people living and working in 
Romania and Bulgaria. The tentative trip itinerary is as follows: July 
14, arrive Bucharest; July 15-16, one-on-one business meetings in 
Bucharest and evening travel to Sofia; July 17-18, one-on-one business 
meetings in Sofia. The precise schedule will depend in part on the 
availability of local government and business officials and the 
specific goals of the mission participants.
    Recruitment and selection of private sector participants for this 
mission will be conducted according to the Statement of Policy 
Governing Department of Commerce Overseas Trade Missions dated March 3, 
1997.

    Dated: April 18, 2003.
Carlos Poza,
Deputy Director General, U.S. & Foreign Commercial Service.
[FR Doc. 03-10113 Filed 4-23-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-FP