[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 131 (Wednesday, July 9, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40902-40903]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-17306]


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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 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, November 17-21, 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.
    Recruitment closes on September 19, 2003.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Sujata S. Millick, Technology 
Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue, 
NW., Washington, DC 20230, telephone 202-482-6804, fax 202-219-3310, 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:
Nov 16--Arrive Belfast, Northern Ireland; evening events and briefing
Nov 17--One-on-One Business Meetings in Belfast; group policy meetings
Nov 18--Business and Policy Meetings in Northern Ireland; Travel to 
Dublin, Republic of Ireland
Nov 19--One-on-One Business Meetings, group policy meetings, mission 
events, and briefings in Dublin
Nov 20--One-on-One Business Meetings, group policy meetings, mission 
events, and briefings in Dublin
Nov 21--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.

[[Page 40903]]

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 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 or around 
July 11, 2003. The fee to participate in the mission will be between $ 
3,000.00 and $3,500.00 and will not cover travel, lodging, or 
incidental expenses. For additional information on the Business 
Development Mission or to obtain an application, businesspersons should 
be referred to Sujata S. Millick, Technology Administration, U.S. 
Department of Commerce, 202-482-6804. Applications should be submitted 
to the Office of International Technology, U.S. Department of Commerce, 
1401 Constitution Avenue, NW., Room 4411, Washington, DC 20230, (or via 
facsimile at 202-219-3310) by September 19, 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: Dr. Sujata S. Millick, U.S. 
Department of Commerce, telephone 202-482-6804.

    Dated: July 2, 2003.
Ken Ferguson,
Acting Director, Office of International Technology, Technology 
Administration, Department of Commerce.
[FR Doc. 03-17306 Filed 7-8-03; 8:45 am]
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