[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 41 (Wednesday, March 3, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9578-9579]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-4350]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration


Executive-Led Trade Mission to Colombia and Panama; Change to 
Mission Dates

AGENCY: International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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Mission Description

    The United States Department of Commerce, International Trade 
Administration, U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service is organizing a 
Trade Mission to Bogot[aacute] and Cartagena, Colombia and Panama City, 
Panama, September 20-24, 2010, to be led by a senior Commerce official. 
The mission will focus on helping U.S. companies launch or increase 
their export business in these promising markets. It will also

[[Page 9579]]

help participating firms gain market information, make business and 
industry contacts, and solidify business strategies, towards the goal 
of increasing U.S. exports to the two markets. The mission will include 
business-to-business matchmaking appointments with local companies, as 
well as market briefings and networking events. The mission will be 
comprised of U.S. firms representing a cross section of U.S. industries 
with growing potential in the target markets, including, but not 
limited to the following sectors: building products; computers; 
components and peripherals; construction equipment; electrical power 
systems; security and safety equipment; telecommunications equipment; 
and travel and tourism services.

Mission Scenario

    The mission will stop in Bogot[aacute], and Cartagena, Colombia, 
and Panama City, Panama. In each city, participants will meet with pre-
screened potential buyers, agents, distributors, and other business 
partners. They will also attend market briefings by U.S. Embassy 
officials, as well as networking events offering further opportunities 
to speak with local business and industry decision-makers.

Proposed Mission Timetable

    Monday, September 20, 2010, Panama City, Panama, Market Briefing, 
Matchmaking appointments, Networking reception.
    Tuesday, September 21, 2010, Panama City, Panama and Cartagena, 
Colombia, Travel to Cartagena, Market Briefing, Matchmaking 
appointments.
    Wednesday, September 22, 2010, Cartagena, Colombia, Matchmaking 
appointments and/or site visits.
    Thursday, September 23, 2010, Cartagena and Bogot[aacute], 
Colombia, Travel to Bogot[aacute], Market Briefing, Matchmaking 
appointments, Networking reception.
    Friday, September 24, 2010, Bogot[aacute], Colombia, Matchmaking 
appointments.

Participation Requirements

    All parties interested in participating in the Executive-led Trade 
Mission to Colombia and Panama must complete and submit an application 
package for consideration by the Department of Commerce. All applicants 
will be evaluated on their ability to meet certain conditions and best 
satisfy the selection criteria as outlined below. A minimum of seven 
U.S. companies and maximum of 15 companies will be selected to 
participate in the mission from the applicant pool. U.S. companies 
already doing business with Colombia and Panama as well as U.S. 
companies seeking to enter these countries for the first time may 
apply.
    Fees and Expenses:
    After a company has been selected to participate on the mission, a 
payment to the Department of Commerce in the form of a participation 
fee is required. The participation fee will be $4,440 for large firms 
and $3,550 for a small or medium-sized enterprise (SME).\1\ The fee for 
each additional firm representative (large firm or SME) is $450. 
Expenses for travel, lodging, most meals, and incidentals will be the 
responsibility of each mission participant. The same fee structure 
applies to representatives of U.S.-based firms stationed in Colombia, 
Panama, or neighboring countries.
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    \1\ 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/contracting opportunities/
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 mission 
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 for Participation:
    Selection will be based on the following criteria, listed in 
decreasing order of importance:
     Suitability of the company's products or services for the 
Colombian and Panamanian markets
     Applicant's potential for business in Colombia and Panama, 
including likelihood of exports resulting from the mission
     Consistency of the applicant's goals and objectives with 
the stated scope of the trade mission
    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

    Mission recruitment will be conducted in an open and public manner. 
Outreach will include publication in the Federal Register, posting on 
the Commerce Department trade mission calendar (http://www.ita.doc.gov/doctm/tmcal.html) and other Internet Web sites, press releases to 
general and trade media, broadcast fax, notices by industry trade 
associations and other multiplier groups, and publicity at industry 
meetings, symposia, conferences, and trade shows.
    Recruitment will begin immediately and conclude no later than 
Friday, July 23, 2010. The U.S. Department of Commerce will review all 
applications immediately after the deadline. We will inform applicants 
of selection decisions as soon as possible after July 23, 2010. 
Applications received after the deadline will be considered only if 
space and scheduling constraints permit.
    Contacts:
Louis Quay, Commercial Service Trade Missions Program, Tel: 202-482-
3973, Fax: 202-482-9000, E-mail: [email protected];
Jessica Arnold, Commercial Service Trade Missions Program, Tel: 202-
482-2026, Fax: 202-482-9000, E-mail: [email protected].

Sean Timmins,
Global Trade Programs, Commercial Service Trade Missions Program.
[FR Doc. 2010-4350 Filed 3-2-10; 8:45 am]
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