[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 79 (Monday, April 26, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21597-21598]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-9590]


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 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration


Business Development Trade Mission to Baghdad, Iraq

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 (US&FCS) is 
organizing a trade mission to Baghdad, Iraq. This mission is scheduled 
for October 2010* and has been created to assist U.S. firms find 
business partners and sell equipment and services in the promising 
Iraqi market. This mission will be led by a Senior Commerce Department 
official*. Nearly two thirds of Iraq's 112 billion dollar economy 
relies on our target export industries such as petrochemical technology 
and machinery. Therefore, our targeted sectors include, but are not 
limited to: oil and gas (including oil field and upstream equipment, 
technology, and services); construction (including engineering, 
architecture, transportation, and infrastructure); and information and 
communications technology. The mission's goal is to provide U.S. 
participants with first-hand market information, access to government 
decision makers as appropriate from the Government of Iraq (GOI), as 
well as one-on-one meetings with business contacts, including potential 
agents, distributors, and partners, to position themselves to enter or 
expand their presence in these sectors.

Commercial Setting

    The unprecedented interest of the United States-Iraq Business and 
Investment Conference (USIBIC) and the successful talks from the United 
States-Iraq Business Dialogue (USIBD), both held in mid-October 2009, 
have opened a unique economic and investment window of opportunity in 
the region. The mission will also follow Iraq's successful national 
elections, held on March 7, 2010.
    Iraq continues to improve its security and to build an environment 
that is more conducive to trade and economic development. In November 
2009, the Iraq Parliament passed an amendment to Investment Law No. 13 
that would allow foreigners to own land for housing projects. It is 
designed to help streamline regulations and applications for foreign 
business and investment. Iraq's government has budgeted over $80 
billion for infrastructure development, focusing on a number of large 
projects relating to construction, highways, railways, 
telecommunications, and security and defense.
    Baghdad is the capital of Iraq. With a municipal population of 6.5 
million (out of 29 million total in Iraq), it is the largest city in 
Iraq and the second largest in the region. Iraq's gross domestic 
product (GDP) grew from $57 billion in 2006 to $112 billion in 2009. 
GDP per capita has surpassed $3,000 and is forecast to exceed $4,500 by 
2014. The U.S. is Iraq's 3rd largest trading partner, directly behind 
Syria and Turkey.
    Iraq has a business culture in which deals are made on the strength 
of personal contacts. This trade mission offers U.S. company 
representatives an excellent introduction to a broad range of Iraq 
officials as well as an opportunity to begin identifying appropriate 
business partners.

Mission Goals

    The goal of the trade mission is to provide U.S. participants with 
first-hand market information, access to government decision makers as 
appropriate and one-on-one meetings with business contacts, including 
potential agents, distributors, and partners, so that they can position 
themselves to enter or expand their presence in Iraq. Thus, the mission 
will:
     Improve U.S. industries' understanding of commercial 
opportunities in Iraq.
     Facilitate business meetings between U.S. and Iraqi 
businesses to expand U.S. exports to Iraq and U.S. commercial 
opportunities in Iraq.
     Introduce U.S. industry to the Baghdad business community 
and government leaders.

Mission Scenario

    The Trade mission will take place in Baghdad, Iraq. Participants 
will meet with new business contacts, learn about the market by 
participating in Embassy briefings, and explore additional 
opportunities at networking receptions. Activities will include one-on-
one meetings with pre-screened business prospects in both countries. 
(Note that the regular workweek in Iraq is Sunday through Thursday.)

Proposed Mission Timetable*

Day 1--Participants arrive in pre-arranged departure city and assemble 
on the preferred flight.
Day 2--Security Briefing.
    Market Briefing.
    One-on-One Business Appointments.
    Hosted Dinner.
Day 3--Market Briefing.
    Industry Sector Briefing.
    Meetings with Government and Industry Officials.
    One-on-One Business Appointments.
    Hosted Dinner.
Day 4--Meetings with Government and Industry Officials.
    Depart for the United States.

Participation Requirements

    This trade mission is designed for a minimum of 15 and a maximum of 
20 qualified companies. All parties interested in participating in the 
trade mission to Baghdad, Iraq, must complete and submit an application 
package for consideration by the U.S. Department of Commerce. All 
applicants will be evaluated on their ability to meet certain 
conditions and to

[[Page 21598]]

best satisfy the selection criteria as outlined below. U.S. companies 
already doing business in the target sectors as well as U.S. companies 
seeking to enter these markets for the first time are encouraged to 
apply.

Fees and Expenses

    After a company has been selected to participate in the mission, a 
payment to the U.S. Department of Commerce in the form of a 
participation fee is required. The participation fee will be $5,200 for 
a single participant for a small- or medium-sized enterprise (SME)\*\ 
and $6,000 for a single participant for a large firm. Participants per 
company will be limited, due to space constraints. The additional 
participant fee will be $3,600 per individual, (this includes the 
individual person's security fee of $3,000). Applicants are encouraged 
to provide justification for each additional applicant in their 
application documents. Interpretation services for official activities 
are included in the fee. Expenses for travel, lodging, some meals, and 
incidentals will be the responsibility of each mission participant. 
Delegation members will be able to take advantage of Embassy-negotiated 
rates for hotel rooms.
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    * An SME is defined as a firm with 500 or fewer employees or 
that otherwise qualifies as 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 (for additional information see 
http://www.export.gov/newsletter/march2008/initiatives.html).
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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 U.S. 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 application.
     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 fifty-one percent U.S. content.

Selection Criteria for Participation

    Selection will be based on the following criteria:
     Suitability of the company's products or services to 
Iraq's market.
     Applicant's potential for business in Iraq, including 
likelihood of exports resulting from the mission.
     Consistency of the applicant's goals and objectives with 
the stated scope of the 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 will 
not be considered during the selection process.

Timeframe for Recruitment and Applications

    Mission recruitment will be conducted in an open and public manner, 
including posting on the U.S. Department of Commerce trade missions 
calendar--http://www.ita.doc.gov/doctm/tmcal.html--and other Internet 
Web sites, publication in domestic trade publications and association 
newsletters, direct outreach to the Department's clients and 
distribution lists, posting in the Federal Register, and announcements 
at industry meetings, symposia, conferences, and trade shows.
    Recruitment for the mission will begin immediately and conclude no 
later than July 19, 2010, by the close of business. Applications 
received after July 19, 2010, will be considered only if space and 
scheduling constraints permit.

Disclaimer, Security, and Transportation

    Trade mission members participate in the trade mission and 
undertake related travel at their own risk and are advised to obtain 
insurance accordingly. Any question regarding insurance coverage must 
be resolved by the participant and its insurer of choice. The U.S. 
Government does not make any representations or guarantees as to the 
safety or security of participants. Companies should consult the State 
Department's travel warning for Iraq: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_921.html.
    The U.S. Government does not make any representations or guarantees 
as to the commercial success of businesses which participate in this 
trade mission. ITA will coordinate with the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad to 
arrange for transportation of the mission participants to and from the 
airport and hotel. The hotel that will be the primary venue for the 
mission has strong security measures in place. Security will be 
furnished by the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad and private hotel security. 
The U.S. Government does not make any representations or guarantees as 
to the commercial success of businesses which participate in this trade 
mission.

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND AN APPLICATION PACKET CONTACT:
    U.S. Commercial Service Domestic Contacts:

Jessica Arnold, International Trade Specialist, U.S. Commercial 
Service, Washington, DC, Tel.: 202-482-2026, [email protected].
Joshua Leibowitz, International Trade Specialist, U.S. Commercial 
Service, Washington, DC, Tel.: 202-482-4437, [email protected].

    U.S. Commercial Service Iraq Contact:

Brian McCleary, Senior Commercial Officer, U.S. Commercial Service, 
Baghdad, [email protected].

Jessica Arnold,
Global Trade Programs, Commercial Service Trade Missions Program.
[FR Doc. 2010-9590 Filed 4-23-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-FP-P