[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 142 (Monday, July 26, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44507-44508]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-16908]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration


Commercial Service Franchising Trade Mission

AGENCY: International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice to announce franchising trade mission to Dublin, 
Ireland, October 4-5, 2004.

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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:

Franchising Trade Mission, Dublin, Ireland

    October 4-5, 2004.

Mission Statement

I. Description of the Mission

    The United States Department of Commerce, International Trade 
Administration, U.S. Commercial Service, Office of Export Promotion 
Services is organizing a Franchising Trade Mission to Dublin, Ireland, 
October 4-5, 2004. This event will target the service sectors that have 
potential for participating U.S. franchisors.

II. Commercial Setting for the Mission

    The franchise sector in Ireland has experienced substantial growth 
in the past few years, with 160 systems now operating over 1,400 
individual units in Ireland. The industry supports approximately 15,000 
full-time equivalent jobs and during 2002 generated annual sales of 
over $1.3 billion. The number of franchise units is expected to reach 
2,500 over the next three years. This surge in interest is being met by 
a healthy supply base of potential master licensees and franchisees.
    The principal business sectors served by franchise operations in 
Ireland are food, home improvement, maintenance, business and 
professional services. The U.S. is now the dominant source of 
franchises, accounting for 39 percent of the market, overtaking the 
U.K. by 9 percent, while indigenous franchises account for a further 15 
percent. U.S. franchises include household names such as Mail Boxes, 
Etc., McDonald's, TGI Fridays, and Remax. In line with high growth in 
the sector, established fast food companies including KFC, Burger King 
and Domino's Pizza have announced aggressive expansion plans to develop 
a combined total of 140 units over the next four years.
    Indigenous franchises are also contributing to the strong growth of 
the sector, with the rapid expansion of franchises such as Supermacs, 
Abrakebabara, Nector Juice Bars and Ireland's most successful domestic 
and international franchise, O'Briens Irish Sandwich Bars. Future 
growth areas are predicted to include home help, building maintenance, 
cleaning, restaurant business, small home office and childcare 
facilities.

III. Goals for the Mission

    The Trade Mission's goal is to gain first-hand market information 
and provide access to key government officials and potential business 
partners for new-to-market, and new-to-export U.S. franchises desiring 
to enter the Ireland's promising market.

[[Page 44508]]

IV. Scenario for the Mission

    Mission participants will arrive in Dublin on or before October 3, 
2004 where they will have two days (October 4-5, 2004) of business 
meetings with potential master franchisees interested in their concept. 
The post will also organize a business reception on the evening of 
October 4, 2004, to give the participants an opportunity to meet with 
potential partners. The mission will officially conclude on the evening 
of October 5, 2004.
    This mission will be promoted through the following avenues: Export 
Assistance Centers and the franchising team; industry newsletters; 
Federal Register; relevant trade publications and associations; past 
trade mission participants; various in-house and purchased industry 
lists and on the Commerce Department trade mission calendar. Web site: 
http://www.export.gov/comm_svc/tradeevents.html.

V. Criteria for Participant Selection

--Relevance of company's products and services to mission goals;
--Potential for business in the market;
--Timely submission of company's completed application and payment of 
participation fee;
--Provision of adequate information on company's products/services and 
communication of the company's primary objectives to facilitate 
appropriate appointments with potential business partners;
--Certification that company's products or services are manufactured in 
the U.S. or if manufactured outside of the U.S. the product/service 
must be marketed under the name of a U.S. firm and have a U.S. content 
representing at least 51 percent of the value of the finished product/
service;
--Any partisan political activities of an applicant, including 
political contributions, will be entirely irrelevant to the selection 
process.

    Recruitment will begin immediately and will close on August 6, 2004 
approximately 6 weeks prior to the start of the mission. The budget is 
based on 10 companies and the participation fee will be $1,700 per 
company.
    Contact Information: Sam Dhir, Project Manager, Office of Trade 
Events Program, U.S. Commercial Service, U.S. Department of Commerce, 
Room 2118, Washington, DC 20230, Tel: 202-482-4756; Fax; 202-482-0178. 
E-mail: [email protected].

    Dated: July 26, 2004.
Nancy Hesser,
Industry Sector Manager, Export Promotion Services.
[FR Doc. 04-16908 Filed 7-23-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-P