[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 172 (Wednesday, September 6, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52527-52529]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-14652]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration


International Buyer Program; Support for Domestic Trade Shows

AGENCY: International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice and call for applications for the International Buyer 
Program for the period January 1, 2008 through December 31, 2008.

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SUMMARY: This notice sets forth objectives, procedures and application 
review criteria associated with support for domestic trade shows by the 
International Buyer Program of the United States and Foreign Commercial 
Service, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of 
Commerce (DOC). This announcement covers selection for International 
Buyer Program participation for Calendar Year 2008 (January 1, 2008 
through December 31, 2008).
    The International Buyer Program (IBP) was established to bring 
international buyers together with U.S. firms by promoting leading U.S. 
trade shows in industries with high export potential. The International 
Buyer Program emphasizes cooperation between the DOC and trade show 
organizers to benefit U.S. firms exhibiting at selected events and 
provides practical, hands-on assistance such as export counseling and 
market analysis to U.S. firms interested in exporting. The assistance 
provided to show organizers includes worldwide overseas promotion of 
selected shows to potential international buyers, end-users, 
representatives and distributors. The worldwide promotion is executed 
through the offices of the United States and Foreign Commercial Service 
(hereinafter referred to as the Commercial Service) in more than 70 
countries representing the United States' major trading partners, and 
also in U.S. Embassies in countries where the Commercial Service does 
not maintain offices. The Department expects to select approximately 35 
shows for the January 1, 2008 through December 31, 2008 period from 
among applicants to the program. Shows selected for the International 
Buyer Program will provide a venue for U.S. firms interested in 
expanding their sales into international markets. Successful show 
organizer applicants will be required to enter into a Memorandum of 
Agreement (MOA) with the DOC. The MOA constitutes an agreement between 
the DOC and the show organizer specifying which responsibilities are to 
be undertaken by DOC as part of the IBP and, in turn, which 
responsibilities are to be undertaken by the show organizer. Anyone 
requesting application information will be sent a sample copy of the 
MOA along with the application and a copy of this Federal Register 
Notice. The responsibilities to be undertaken by DOC will be carried 
out by the Commercial Service, the lead agency for this program.

DATES: Applications must be received by 5 p.m. local time November 6, 
2006. To avoid delays, applications should be sent via express mail due 
to the irradiation of regular mail addressed to the DOC Herbert Clark 
Hoover Building (HCHB) location.

ADDRESSES: International Buyer Program, Trade Promotion Programs, U.S. 
and Foreign Commercial Service, International Trade Administration, 
U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th & Constitution Avenue, NW., HCHB 
2110, Washington, DC 20230. Telephone: (202) 482-3334.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joseph J. English, Acting Program 
Manager, International Buyer Program, HCHB 2110, Trade Promotion 
Programs, U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service, International Trade 
Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th & Constitution 
Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230. Telephone (202) 482-3334; Fax: (202) 
482-0115; E-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Commercial Service is accepting

[[Page 52528]]

applications for the International Buyer Program for events taking 
place between January 1, 2008, and December 31, 2008.
    Under the IBP, the Commercial Service seeks to bring together 
international buyers with U.S. firms by selecting and promoting in 
international markets U.S. domestic trade shows covering industries 
with high export potential. Selection of a trade show is valid for one 
event, i.e., a trade show organizer seeking selection for a recurring 
event must submit a new application for selection for each occurrence 
of the event. Even if the event occurs more than once in the 12-month 
period covered by this announcement, the trade show organizer must 
submit a separate application for each event.
    The Commercial Service will select approximately 35 events for 
support between January 1, 2008 and December 31, 2008. The Commercial 
Service will select those events that, in its judgment, most clearly 
meet the Commercial Service's statutory mandate to promote U.S. 
exports, especially those of small- and medium-sized enterprises, and 
that best meet the selection criteria articulated below.
    The Commercial Service selects trade shows to be International 
Buyer Program partners that it determines to be leading international 
trade shows appropriate for participation by U.S. exporting firms and 
for promotion in overseas markets by U.S. Embassies and Consulates. 
Selection as an International Buyer Program partner does not constitute 
a guarantee by the U.S. Government of the show's success. International 
Buyer Program partnership status is not an endorsement of the show 
organizer except as to its international buyer activities. Non-
selection should not be viewed as a finding that the event will not be 
successful in the promotion of U.S. exports.
    A participation fee of $8,000 is required for shows of five days or 
less and having only one International Business Center. For shows more 
than five days but less than ten days in duration, and/or requiring two 
International Business Centers, a participation fee of $14,000 is 
required. For shows ten days or more in duration and/or requiring more 
than two IBCs, the participation fee will be negotiated, but shall not 
be less than $19,500. Participation fees are for shows selected and 
promoted during the period between January 1, 2008 and December 31, 
2008. The participation fee is not an application fee.
    Exclusions: Trade shows that are either first-time or horizontal 
(non-industry specific) events will not be considered.
    General Selection Criteria: The Department will select shows to be 
International Buyer Program partners that, in the judgment of the 
Department, best meet the following criteria:
    (a) Intellectual Property Rights Protection: The trade show 
organizer cooperates with DOC's Intellectual Property Rights Initiative 
by including in the terms and conditions of its exhibitor contracts 
provisions for the protection of intellectual property rights (IPR); 
has procedures in place at the trade show to address IPR infringement, 
which, at a minimum, provides information to help U.S. exhibitors 
procure legal representation during the trade show; and agrees to 
assist DOC in reaching and educating U.S. exhibitors on the Strategy 
Targeting Organized Piracy (STOP!), IPR protection measures available 
during the show, and the means to protect IPR in overseas markets, as 
well as in the United States.
    (b) Export Potential: The trade show promotes products and services 
from U.S. industries that have high export potential, as determined by 
DOC sources, e.g., Commercial Service best prospects lists and U.S. 
export statistics (certain industries are rated as priorities by our 
domestic and international commercial officers in their Country 
Commercial Guides. Export statistics, Country Commercial Guides and 
more are available at http://www.export.gov.
    (c) International Interest: The trade show meets the needs of a 
significant number of overseas markets and corresponds to marketing 
opportunities as identified by the posts in the Country Commercial 
Guides (e.g. best prospect lists). Previous international attendance at 
the show may be used as an indicator.
    (d) Scope of Show: The event must offer a broad spectrum of U.S. 
made products and services for the subject industry. Trade shows with a 
majority of U.S. firms as exhibitors are given priority.
    (e) U.S. Content of Show Exhibitors: Trade shows with exhibitors 
featuring a high percentage of U.S. products or products with a high 
degree of U.S. content will be preferred. In accordance with DOC 
policy, to have ``U.S. content'' products and services included in the 
Export Interest Directory must be either: (i) produced or manufactured 
in the United States; or, (ii) if produced or manufactured outside of 
the United States, 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 product or service being exported. U.S.-sourced inputs that 
may be considered as contributing to U.S. content, to the extent that 
they are incorporated into the finished product or service being 
exported, may include but are not limited to: materials; components; 
packaging; labor; production equipment and factory overhead; research & 
development; design; intellectual property; warehousing; distribution; 
sales; administration & management; advertising; and marketing and 
promotion.
    (f) Stature of Show: The trade show must be clearly recognized in 
the industry it represents as a leading event for the promotion of the 
products and services of that industry both domestically and 
internationally. It should serve as a showplace for the latest 
technology or techniques employed within the sector.
    (g) Exhibitor Interest: Show Organizers must demonstrate interest 
on the part of U.S. exhibitors to receive international visitors during 
the event by providing historical data regarding the number of 
international attendees and the number of countries represented at 
prior prensentations of the event. A significant number of the event's 
U.S. exhibitors should be New-To-Export (NTE) or seeking to expand 
their distribution into new export markets.
    (h) Overseas Marketing: There has been a demonstrated effort to 
market prior shows overseas. In addition, the applicant should describe 
in detail the international marketing program to be conducted for the 
event, explaining how efforts should increase individual and group 
international attendance. (Planned cooperation with Visit USA 
Committees overseas is desirable. For more information on Visit USA 
Committees go to http://www.tia.org/marketing/visit_usa_committees.html.)
    (i) Logistics: The site, facilities, transportation services, and 
availability of accommodations at the site of the exhibition must be 
capable of accommodating large numbers of attendees whose native 
language will be other than English.
    (j) Delegation Incentives: Show Organizers should list or identify 
a range of incentives to be offered to delegations and/or delegation 
leaders recruited by Commercial Service overseas posts. Examples of 
incentives to international visitors and to organized delegations 
include, but are not limited to: Waived or reduced admission fees; 
Special events, such as receptions, meetings with association 
executives, briefings, and site tours; and complimentary accommodations 
for leaders.
    (k) Cooperation: Successful applicants must enter into a Memorandum 
of

[[Page 52529]]

Agreement (MOA) that sets forth the specific actions to be performed by 
the show organizer and the Department of Commerce. The show organizer 
must be willing to cooperate with the Commercial Service and the 
International Buyer Program to further the program's goals and adhere 
to the target dates listed in the MOA and in the event timetables. Past 
experience of show organizers who have participated in the IBP is taken 
into account in evaluating the current application to the program.
    How to Apply: Interested show organizers [Note: should capitalize 
or not capitalize ``show organizer'' consistently.] can obtain 
information and application materials from the point of contact listed 
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT at the beginning of this notice. 
Anyone requesting application information will be sent a sample copy of 
the MOA along with the application and a copy of this Federal Register 
Notice. Applications should be sent via express mail to avoid delays 
due to the irradiation of regular mail addressed to the DOC Herbert 
Clark Hoover Building (HCHB) location.
    All applications must be received by 5 p.m. local time on November 
6, 2006. For deadline purposes, facsimile or e-mail applications will 
be accepted; however, paper copies of the signed original applications 
must be received within five business days after the deadline date. 
Late applications will not be considered.
    Legal Authority: The Commercial Service is authorized to conduct 
the International Buyer Program under 15 U.S.C. 4724. The Commercial 
Service has the legal authority to enter into MOAs with show organizers 
(partners) under the provisions of the Mutual Educational and Cultural 
Exchange Act of 1961 (MECEA), as amended (22 U.S.C. Sections 2455(f) 
and 2458 (c)). MECEA allows the Commercial Service to accept 
contributions of funds and services from firms for the purposes of 
furthering its mission.
    Information Collection Requirements: The Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) has approved the information collection requirements of 
the application to this program under the provisions of the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) (OMB Control No. 0625-
0151). Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person is 
required to respond to, nor shall a person be subject to a penalty for 
failure to comply with a collection of information subject to the 
requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act, unless that collection of 
information displays a currently valid OMB Control Number.

    Signed: August 3, 2006.
Todd Thurwachter,
Director, Office of Trade Event Programs, U.S. and Foreign Commercial 
Service, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of 
Commerce.
 [FR Doc. E6-14652 Filed 9-5-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-FP-P