[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 237 (Friday, December 11, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65749-65751]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-29559]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration


Mission Statement

AGENCY: Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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    RepCAN 2010--U.S. Matchmaker and Exhibition, Vancouver, Toronto & 
Montreal, Canada, June 9-10, June 14-15, June 16-17, 2010.

Mission Description

    The United States Department of Commerce's International Trade 
Administration, U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service, is organizing 
RepCAN 2010 a combined trade mission and exhibition, to be held in 
Vancouver, British Columbia on June 9-10; Toronto, Ontario on June 14-
15; and Montreal, Quebec on June 16-17, under the U.S. and Foreign 
Commercial Service's Canada First Building Bridges to Prosperity 
Initiative. RepCAN 2010 is a horizontal event open to all industry 
sectors. It is designed to provide export-ready, small to medium-sized 
U.S. companies (SMEs) with a highly efficient and cost-effective 
opportunity to establish profitable commercial relations with 
prospective agents, distributors and end-users in any one, two, or all 
three, of Canada's primary regional markets. RepCAN 2010 also offers 
U.S. new-to-export firms an ideal opportunity to gain valuable 
international business experience in a low-risk market with strong 
potential for high returns.
    RepCAN 2010 participants will benefit from a full range of business 
facilitation and trade promotion services provided by the U.S. 
Commercial Service in Canada, including:

[check] Current market sector information
[check] Professional Commercial Service business counseling
[check] Pre-event marketing support and promotional consideration
[check] Pre-event market briefings by industry experts
[check] Individual business meetings with potential Canadian partners
[check] Exhibit space for table-top displays and promotional materials
[check] Networking events to include business, industry and government 
contacts
[check] Full logistical support, including hotel bookings at preferred 
rates
[check] On-site assistance and support
[check] National market exposure
[check] Listings on CS Canada's website and in a special RepCAN 
brochure
[check] Follow-up assistance

Commercial Setting

    The United States and Canada share the largest and most dynamic 
commercial relationship in the world. In 2008, two-way merchandise 
trade crossing our common border with Canada stood at US$596.9 billion, 
or more than US$1.6 billion per day as U.S. exports to Canada grew by 
5.0%. Today, U.S. trade with Canada, just one country, is about the 
same as total U.S. trade with all 27 countries of the European Union 
combined. Canada also represents the number one export market for 36 of 
our 50 states and is among the top five export markets for another ten 
states.
    Canada's geographic proximity, open market economy, stable business 
climate and receptivity to U.S. goods and services make it the number 
one gateway to the international marketplace for thousands of U.S. 
export-ready SMEs. The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), 
which provides many U.S. origin goods with duty-free entry into Canada, 
also contributes to the relatively low-cost, low-risk, access that U.S. 
SMEs can gain to prosper and grow in the global marketplace.
    Leading Sectors in Canada for U.S. Export and Investment:

 Medical Devices
 Safety and Security Equipment
 Agricultural Machinery and Equipment
 Aerospace and Defense
 Consumer Electronics
 Travel and Tourism
 Automotive Aftermarket Parts & Accessories/Service Equipment
 Computer Hardware
 Telecommunications Equipment
 Computer Software
 Oil and Gas Field Machinery
 Electrical Power Systems

Mission Goals

    To provide U.S. export-ready, small-to-medium-sized firms with 
cost-effective, low opportunities to identify, establish and develop 
valuable long-term business relations in Canada, our number one export 
market.
    To provide state, regional and local governments in the United 
States with a ready-made vehicle that can be employed to help their 
rural and minority-owned SMEs cross the threshold into the 
international market.
    To provide our individual participants with export successes and 
our multipliers with a positive export-development experience.

Mission Scenario

    In each city, participants will be invited to attend an informal 
ice-breaker reception, where they will meet CS staff and receive their 
updated participant's information package, as well as briefings on the 
following day's program. Participants will be allowed to set-up their 
table-top displays and pop-up exhibits that evening. Participants will 
also be provided with a six-foot draped table for their table-top 
displays and four chairs for use during the event.
    The day of the event will begin with a briefing on ``Doing Business 
in Canada'' focusing on the respective regional market and featuring CS 
Canada business service providers and others speaking on the commercial 
climate, local business practices, shipping to Canada, and other 
aspects of doing business in Canada.
    Individual one-on-one business meetings with pre-screened 
prospective Canadian business partners will commence immediately 
following the briefing in the exhibit hall/meeting room and will 
continue throughout the day. In addition to one-on-one meetings

[[Page 65750]]

on site, conference calls and off-site meetings will be conducted with 
prospective partners, as appropriate.
    A networking reception for participants, prospective partners and 
other members of the local business community will be held at the end 
of the day.

Proposed Mission Timetable

    The proposed schedule allows for about a day and a half in each 
city.

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Wednesday, June 9-10, 2010...  RepCan 2010 begins in Vancouver, British
                                Columbia
                               Welcome briefing.
                               Business matchmaking: 1 full day of
                                appointments.
                               Networking reception.
                               Participants will depart June 11.
Monday, June 14-15, 2010.....  RepCan 2010's second stop: Toronto,
                                Ontario.
                               Welcome briefing.
                               Business matchmaking: 1 full day of
                                appointments.
                               Networking reception.
                               Participants will depart Toronto, Ontario
                                on the morning of June 16 for Montreal,
                                Quebec.
Wednesday, June 16-17, 2010..  Mission's third and last stop: Montreal,
                                Quebec.
                               Welcome briefing.
                               Business matchmaking: 1 full day of
                                appointments.
                               Networking reception.
                               Participants will depart June 18.
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Participation Requirements

    All parties interested in participating in RepCAN must complete and 
submit an application for consideration by the U.S. Commercial Service. 
All applicants will be evaluated on their ability to meet certain 
conditions and best satisfy the selection criteria as outlined below. 
The mission is open on a first come first served basis. A minimum of 10 
and a maximum of 25 companies per stop will be selected to participate 
from the applicant pool.

Fees and Expenses

    After a company has been selected to participate in the RepCAN 2010 
event, a payment to the Department of Commerce in the form of a 
participation fee is required. The participation fee is $1,250 per 
company for small-and-medium enterprises (SME \*\) and $1,750 per 
company for large firms, per stop with up to two company 
representatives. Expenses for lodging, transportation, most meals, and 
incidentals will be the responsibility of each mission participant.
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    \*\ An SME is defined as a firm with 500 or fewer employees or 
that otherwise qualifies as a small business under SBA regulations 
(see http://www.sba.gov/services/contractingopportunities/sizestandardstopics/index.html). Parent companies, affiliates, and 
subsidiaries will be considered when determining business size. The 
dual pricing reflects the Commercial Service's user fee schedule 
that became effective May 1, 2008 ( see http://www.export.gov/newsletter/march2008/initiatives.html for additional information).
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Conditions for Participation

     An applicant must submit a completed and signed event 
application and supplemental application materials, including adequate 
information on the company's products and/or services, primary market 
objectives, and goals for participation. If the Department of Commerce 
receives an incomplete application, the Department may reject the 
application, request additional information, or take the lack of 
information into account when evaluating the applications.
     Each applicant must also certify that the products and 
services it seeks to export through the mission are either produced in 
the United States, or, if not, marketed under the name of a U.S. firm 
and have at least 51 percent U.S. content of the value of the finished 
product or service.

Selection Criteria

     Suitability of the company's products or services to the 
target market(s);
     Applicant's potential for business in the target 
market(s), including likelihood of exports resulting from the event; 
and
     Relevance of the company's business line to the mission's 
goals.
    Referrals from political organizations and any documents containing 
references to partisan political activities (including political 
contributions) will be removed from an applicant's submission and not 
considered during the selection process.

Timeframe for Recruitment and Applications

    Recruitment for RepCAN 2010 will begin with the release of this 
mission statement and publication of this announcement in the Federal 
Register.
    RepCAN 2010 recruitment will be conducted in an open and public 
manner. Outreach will include posting on the Commerce Department trade 
mission calendar and other Internet Web sites, two webinar 
presentations (one to multiplier groups, i.e. USEACs, State Offices/
Economic Development and one to U.S. companies) press releases to 
general and trade media, direct mail, broadcast fax, notices by 
industry trade associations and other multiplier groups, and publicity 
at industry meetings, symposia, conferences, and trade shows.
    RepCAN 2010 will also be promoted through the CS Canada's quarterly 
newsletter and on CS Canada's homepage--http://www.buyusa.gov.
    Recruitment Start: Immediately.
    Registration Ends: March 31, 2010.
    Participants Arrive: Vancouver, June 9, 2010. Montreal, June 14, 
2010. Toronto, June 16, 2010.
    Formal Program: Vancouver, June 10, 2010. Montreal, June 15, 2010. 
Toronto, June 17, 2010.
    The U.S. Commercial Service in Canada and its offices in Toronto, 
Montreal and Vancouver will lead recruitment activities. Applications 
received after March 31, 2010 will be considered only if space and 
scheduling constraints permit.
    Contacts: RepCAN 2010: Vancouver--Lead, Judy Simonite, Commercial 
Specialist, U.S. Consulate General--Vancouver, 1095 W. Pender St., 
1950, Vancouver, BC V6E 2M6, tel: 604-685-3385, e-mail: 
[email protected].
    RepCAN 2010: Toronto--Lead, Stefan Popescu, Commercial Specialist, 
U.S. Consulate General--Toronto, 480 University Ave., 620, 
Toronto, ON M5G 1V2, tel: 416-595-5412 ext. 223, e-mail: 
[email protected].
    RepCAN 2010: Montreal--Lead, Connie Irrera, Commercial Specialist, 
U.S. Consulate General--Montreal, P.O. Box 65 Stn Desjardins, Montreal, 
QC

[[Page 65751]]

H5B 1G1, tel: 514-908-3662, e-mail: [email protected].

Sean Timmins,
Global Trade Programs, Commercial Service Trade Missions Program.
[FR Doc. E9-29559 Filed 12-10-09; 8:45 am]
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