[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 173 (Monday, September 8, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52891-52893]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-22716]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE


Business Development Mission to Brazil

AGENCY: Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice to Announce Business Development Mission to Brazil, 
November 9-13, 2003.

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SUMMARY: Deputy Secretary of Commerce Samuel W. Bodman, and Assistant 
Secretary of Commerce for Market Access and Compliance William Lash, 
will lead a senior-level business development mission to Sao Paulo, 
Brasilia and Recife, Brazil from November 9-13, 2003. The focus of the 
mission will be to help U.S. companies explore trade and investment 
opportunities in Brazil. The delegation will include approximately 10-
15 U.S.-based senior executives of small, medium and large U.S. firms 
representing, but not limited to, technology, equipment, and services 
in the following key growth sectors: infrastructure (port, rail, 
construction), information technology, security, agribusiness and 
biotechnology.

DATES: Applications should be submitted to the Office of Business 
Liaison by October 3, 2003. Applications received after that date

[[Page 52892]]

will be considered only if space and scheduling constraints permit.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Office of Business Liaison; Room 5062; 
Department of Commerce; Washington, DC 20230; Tel: (202) 482-1360; Fax: 
(202) 482-4054.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Business Development Mission to Brazil

November 9-13, 2003

I. Description of the Mission

    Deputy Secretary of Commerce Samuel W. Bodman, and Assistant 
Secretary of Commerce for Market Access and Compliance William Lash, 
will lead a senior-level business development mission to Sao Paulo, 
Brasilia and Recife, Brazil from November 9-13, 2003. The focus of the 
mission will be to help U.S. companies explore trade and investment 
opportunities in Brazil. The delegation will include approximately 10-
15 U.S.-based senior executives of small, medium and large U.S. firms 
representing, but not limited to, technology, equipment, and services 
in the following key growth sectors: infrastructure (port, rail, 
construction), information technology, security, agribusiness and 
biotechnology.

II. Commercial Setting for the Mission

    Brazil is the largest market in the Western Hemisphere after the 
United States, with 180 million people and a GDP of over $450 billion. 
Total trade between the United States and Brazil has held steady at 
about $30 billion per year. In 2002, Brazil had a $13 billion surplus 
with the world ($3.4 billion with the U.S.) as a result of an 
aggressive export strategy, relatively favorable exchange rate regime, 
and strong agricultural exports.
    Brazil offers substantial opportunities for U.S. firms due to the 
sheer size and sophistication of its internal market. Developing 
Brazil's infrastructure is a priority for the Lula Administration, and 
is key to modernizing the underdeveloped Northeast region of the 
country, as well as furthering efficiency in the Brazil's industrial 
zones. The Brazilian federal government and many individual states are 
moving forward on a variety of infrastructure development projects 
backed by multilateral lending institutions, focusing on transportation 
and construction. Development of Brazil's technology sector--both 
information technology and biotechnology--is another priority for the 
Lula government. Strong links between the research and industry 
communities offer a wealth of business opportunities across the 
country. Brazil also has advanced genetic and biotechnology research 
sectors with a focus on agriculture and agribusiness.
    The financial situation in Brazil has greatly improved since last 
year's Presidential elections. The new administration immediately set 
out to calm the markets by vowing to maintain strict fiscal policies, 
fulfill Brazil's debt obligations, promote economic growth, and install 
pro-business officials in his cabinet. Although high interest rates 
have dampened internal investment, the Lula Administration has created 
a solid economic climate by holding inflation in check, reforming part 
of the tax code, and working to reduce bureaucracy in international 
trade.

III. Goals for the Mission

    The mission will further U.S. commercial policy objectives, and 
advance specific U.S. business interests. It is intended to:
    [sbull] Assist individual U.S. companies to pursue export and other 
new business opportunities in Brazil by introducing them to key 
government decision-making officials and potential business partners;
    [sbull] Evaluate the market potential for the company's products 
and assist firms in gaining an understanding of how to operate 
successfully in Brazil's commercial environment;
    [sbull] Enhance the dialogue between government and industry on 
issues affecting U.S.-Brazil commercial relations, and build upon the 
pro-growth agenda launched during the Summit between President Bush and 
Brazilian President Lula; and
    [sbull] Promote the benefits of economic growth through liberalized 
trade and investment policies, especially in the underdeveloped 
Northeast region of Brazil.

IV. 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 trends and the commercial environment. 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. Representational events also will be organized to provide 
mission participants with opportunities to meet Brazil's business and 
government representatives, as well as U.S. business people living and 
working in Brazil.
The tentative trip itinerary will be as follows:

November 9--Arrive Brasilia; Mission Begins
November 10--Meetings with the Brazilian Government
November 11--Travel to Recife for Business Meetings
November 12--Travel to Sao Paulo for Business Meetings
November 13--Business Meetings in Sao Paulo; Mission Concludes

V. Criteria for Participation of Companies

    The 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'' established 
in March 1997. Approximately 10-15 companies will be selected for the 
mission. Companies will be selected according to the criteria set out 
below.
Eligibility
    Applicants must be: (1) incorporated in the United States; and (2) 
the products and/or services that it will promote (a) must be 
manufactured or produced in the United States; or (b) if manufactured 
or produced outside the United States, must be 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
    Companies will be selected for participation in the mission on the 
basis of:
    [sbull] Consistency of company's goals with the scope and desired 
outcome of the mission as described herein;
    [sbull] Relevance of a company's business and product line to 
market opportunities in Brazil;
    [sbull] Rank of the designated company representative;
    [sbull] Past, present, or prospective international business 
activity;
    [sbull] Diversity of company size, type, location, demographics, 
and traditional under-representation in business;
    [sbull] Degree of company's commitment to good corporate 
citizenship; and
    [sbull] Timely receipt of signed mission application, participation 
agreement, and participation fee.
    Recruitment will begin immediately and will be conducted in an open 
and public manner, including publication in the Federal Register, 
posting on the Commerce Department trade missions

[[Page 52893]]

calendar--http://www.ita.doc.gov/doctm/tmcal.html--and other Internet 
websites, press releases to the general and trade media. Promotion of 
the mission will also take place through the involvement of U.S. Export 
Assistance Centers and relevant trade associations.
    An applicant's partisan political activities (including political 
contributions) are irrelevant to the selection process.

VI. Time Frame for Applications

    Applications for the trade mission to Brazil will be made available 
on or about September 4, 2003. The fee to participate in the mission 
has not yet been determined, but will be approximately $5,000 to 
$8,000. The participation fee will not cover travel to and from Brazil 
or lodging expenses; these will be the responsibility of each mission 
participant. For additional information on the trade mission or to 
obtain an application, contact the Office of Business Liaison at (202) 
482-1360. Applications should be submitted by October 3, 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. A mission website will be posted at 
http://www.commerce.gov/brazilmission2003 to share information as it 
becomes available. Contact: Office of Business Liaison, Room 5062, 
Department of Commerce, Washington, DC 20230, Tel: (202) 482-1360 Fax: 
(202) 482-4054, e-mail: [email protected], http://www.commerce.gov/brazilmission2003.

    Dated: September 2, 2003.
Dan McCardell,
Director, Office of Business Liaison, Room 5062, Department of 
Commerce.
[FR Doc. 03-22716 Filed 9-5-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-D-R-P