[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 208 (Thursday, October 28, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66360-66362]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-27249]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration


Transportation and Energy Products and Services Trade Mission; 
Doha, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi and Dubai, U.A.E.

I. Mission Description

    The United States Department of Commerce's International Trade 
Administration U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service (US&FCS) is 
organizing an executive-led trade mission for multi-modal 
transportation and energy infrastructure development products and 
services to Qatar, Abu Dhabi, and Dubai, June 5-10, 2011. This mission 
will be led by an executive level trade official. The mission is 
designed to contribute to President Obama's National Export Initiative 
to achieve the goal of doubling exports over the next five years to 
support two million American jobs. This mission will support job 
creation by increasing exports of products and services that contribute 
to these infrastructure development projects in these locations.
    This mission will allow U.S. executives to connect with key 
decision makers in the U.A.E. and Qatar, and form partnerships which 
will allow their companies to expand in to new markets. The mission 
will include, but is not limited to: Advanced vehicle technologies and 
intelligent transportation systems and related services and software; 
multimodal transportation systems, products and technologies, including 
port development, supply chain systems and strategies; energy products 
and services; smart grid technologies; mass transportation systems; and 
other relevant products and services.

Commercial Setting U.A.E.

    The U.A.E. is the largest export market in the Middle East/North 
Africa region, and presents qualified American companies with 
opportunities to expand their products and services to a fast growing 
market. The 2009 GDP for the U.A.E. was $231.3 billion and the 2009 per 
capita income was $42,000. Despite last year's global financial crisis, 
the U.S. and the U.A.E. have continued their long-term trade and 
investment relationship. Exports between both countries have increased 
almost every year since 1971, when the U.A.E was established.
    The U.S. exported over $12 billion worth of products to the U.A.E. 
in 2009, representing a 237 percent increase since 2002. The U.S. is 
the third largest exporter to the U.A.E. and enjoys a very large trade 
surplus and a strong trading and investment relationship. The U.A.E. 
has become the regional leader in the Middle East in terms of openness 
to international trade and investment and political stability. It is 
making major investments in infrastructure and in diversification of 
its economy away from oil and gas, resulting in significant export 
opportunities for U.S. firms. The U.A.E. is developing key 
transportation infrastructure projects including: Port Khalifa and 
industrial zone at Taweelah; the new $8 billion Union Railway project; 
the $6.7 billion expansion of Abu Dhabi International Airport; the 
construction of the new Maktoum Airport, which will eventually have 
five runways; and public transportation systems, such as the expansion 
of the Dubai metro and the construction of the Abu Dhabi metro and 
light rail. The need to develop the infrastructure necessary for the 
construction and profitable operation of these new systems, 
particularly those related to multi-modal freight and intelligent 
supply chain management, provides significant business opportunities in 
areas where U.S. companies excel.
    U.S. products enjoy favorable tariffs that generally do not exceed 
five percent.\1\ U.S. business opportunities also exist in alternative 
energy products and services. The government and private sector of Abu 
Dhabi have growing interest in sustainable energy production and 
established the Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar). The U.A.E. 
has recognized the need to increase the use of non-fossil fuel based 
energy resources such as solar and nuclear. This will likely increase 
the need for alternative energy products and services.
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    \1\ World Trade Organization: Latest Available MFN Applied 
Tariffs At HS 6 (2007).
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Qatar
    Qatar is an important export market for U.S. small and medium size 
businesses. The U.S. exported $2.7 billion worth of goods and services 
in 2009, making the U.S. the second largest exporter to the Emirates.
    Qatar has a 2009 GDP of $57.69 billion and a GDP-per capita of 
$75,900, which is one of the highest per capita incomes in the world. 
This has led

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foreign firms to increase their investment in Qatar's infrastructure 
and making it one of the most prosperous markets in the Middle East.
    The current economic development environment in Qatar offers great 
opportunities for U.S. firms to expand their business. Qatar's 
transportation infrastructure is the main sector benefiting from the 
current domestic growth environment. Their mass transportation 
structure has been operating at capacity, with a strong need to expand 
the system. Qatar does not have any railroads, which is one of the 
major reasons for heavy road congestion throughout the country. There 
is a great opportunity for U.S. engineers and manufacturers to 
contribute in the effort to create a rail lines and improve traffic 
safety throughout the Emirate.
    Qatar is a natural gas focused economy. Most natural gas projects 
are completed or will be in a short period of time. The U.S. presence 
in this sector is significant and the standards adopted by the country 
are all U.S. Qatar is on the radar screen of U.S. energy companies and 
Qatari companies go to the U.S. to source their needs for the energy 
sector. Major exceptions to opportunities in the energy sector in Qatar 
involve alternative energy products and services including nuclear, 
wind, and solar products and services, which are not included within 
the scope of this mission.
Other Products and Services
    The foregoing analysis of export opportunities in the U.A.E. and 
Qatar is not intended to be exhaustive, but illustrative of the many 
opportunities in these markets available to U.S. businesses. Other 
products and services that contribute to the energy and infrastructure 
development of the U.A.E. and Qatar also may have great potential. 
Applications from companies selling products within the scope of this 
mission, but not specifically identified in this Mission Statement, 
will be considered and evaluated by the U.S. Department of Commerce, 
along with all other applications to participate in this mission. 
Companies whose products do not fit the scope of mission may contact 
their local U.S. Export Assistance Center (USEAC) to learn about other 
trade missions and services that may provide more targeted export 
opportunities. Companies may call 1-800-872-8723, or e-mail: 
[email protected] to obtain such information. This information also may be 
found on the Department's Web site: http://www.export.gov.

II. Mission Goals

    The trade mission's goal is to introduce U.S. exporters of 
transportation and energy products and services to potential end-users 
and partners, including potential agents, distributors, and licensees. 
The mission's goal is to facilitate business partnerships and provide 
participants with market information about the local infrastructure 
that will contribute to increasing U.S. exports to the U.A.E. and Qatar 
markets. The trade mission's purpose is to advance ITA's goal to 
broaden and deepen the U.S. exporter base and support the President's 
National Export Initiative by providing individual participants with 
business opportunities to achieve export success in these markets.

III. Mission Scenario

    In each market, U.S. mission members will be presented with a 
briefing by the U.S. Embassy's Counselor for Commercial Affairs, the 
Senior Commercial Specialist for the energy, transportation, and 
infrastructure sectors and other key U.S. Government and corporate 
officials. Participants also will take part in business matchmaking 
appointments with pre-screened private-sector organizations. In 
addition, they will attend a networking event with multipliers. U.S. 
participants will be counseled before and after the mission by a 
domestic mission coordinator. This includes the following:
     Pre-travel briefing/webinars on subjects ranging from 
business practices in each market to security considerations involving 
mission related travel.
     Travel from Doha to Abu Dhabi will be by commercial air at 
traveler's expense. Mission participants will be notified which flight 
to reserve.
     On site staff assistance.
    Exclusions: The mission fee does not include any personal travel 
expenses such as lodging, most meals, local ground transportation, 
except as stated above, and air transportation from the U.S. to the 
mission sites and return to the U.S. Business visas may be required. 
Government fees and processing expenses to obtain such visas are also 
not included in the mission costs. However, the U.S. Department of 
Commerce will provide instructions to each participant on the 
procedures required to obtain necessary business visas.

IV. Proposed Timetable

    Mission participants are encouraged to arrive on or before June 4, 
2011 and the mission program will proceed from June 5-10, 2011.

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June 3 or 4.........................  Arrive in Doha, Qatar.
June 5..............................  Doha, Qatar.
                                      Market briefings by U.S. Embassy,
                                       Doha and Qatar Government
                                       officials.
                                      One-on-one business matchmaking
                                       appointments.
                                      Networking reception.
June 6..............................  Doha, Qatar.
                                      Matchmaking appointments.
                                      Travel to Abu Dhabi, U.A.E.
June 7..............................  Abu Dhabi, U.A.E.
                                      Market briefings by U.S. Consulate
                                       Officials.
                                      One-on-one business matchmaking
                                       appointments.
                                      Networking reception.
June 8..............................  Abu Dhabi, U.A.E.
                                      One-on-one business matchmaking
                                       appointments.
                                      Travel to Dubai, U.A.E.
                                      Possible networking reception in
                                       Dubai.
June 9..............................  Dubai, U.A.E.
                                      One-on-one business matchmaking
                                       appointments.
                                      Possible networking reception.
June 10.............................  Dubai, U.A.E.
                                      Follow-up meetings and
                                       appointments.
                                      Return Home.
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V. Participation Requirements

    All applicants will be evaluated on their ability to meet certain 
conditions and best satisfy the selection criteria as outlined below. 
The mission is designed to select a minimum of 12 and a maximum of 18 
companies to participate in the mission from the applicant pool. U.S. 
companies already doing business in the target markets, 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 
on the mission, a payment to the Department of Commerce in the form of 
a participation fee is required. The participation fee will be $4,400 
for large firms and $3,500 for a small or medium-sized enterprise (SME) 
\2\, which will cover one representative. The fee for each additional 
firm representative (large firm or SME) is $500. Expenses for travel, 
lodging, most meals, and

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incidentals will be the responsibility of each mission participant.
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    \2\ 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 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 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 fifty-one percent U.S. content.
    Recruitment activities will include, but not limited to Internet 
Web sites, press releases to general and trade media, direct mail, 
notices by industry trade associations and other multiplier groups, and 
publicity at industry meetings, symposia, conferences, and trade shows.

Selection Criteria for Participation

     Suitability of the company's products or services to the 
U.A.E and Qatar markets.
     Consistency of the applicant's goals and objectives with 
the scope and design of the mission.
     Applicant's potential for business in the U.A.E and Qatar, 
including likelihood of exports resulting from the mission.
    Diversity of company size, type, location, and demographics also 
may be considered during the review process. 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.

Selection Timeline

    Mission recruitment will be conducted in an open and public manner, 
including 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, direct mail, broadcast fax, notices by industry trade 
associations and other multiplier groups, and publicity at industry 
meetings, symposia, conferences, and trade shows.
    Recruitment for the mission will begin immediately, and conclude 
March 4, 2011, unless extended by the Department of Commerce. 
Applications received after March 4, 2011, will be considered only if 
space and scheduling constraints permit.
    Contacts: Larry Brill, U.S. Commercial Service Domestic Contact: 
Phone: (202) 482-1856, Fax: (202) 482-2331, E-mail: 
[email protected].
    U.S. Commercial Service Qatar Contact: Dao Lee, U.S. Commercial 
Service, Doha, Qatar, Tel: 011- 974-488-4101/Fax: 011-974-488-4163, E-
mail: [email protected].
    U.S. Commercial Service Qatar Contact: Ms. Laurie Farris, U.S. 
Commercial Service, Abu Dhabi, UAE, Phone: 011-971-2-414-2668, Fax: 
011-971-2-414-2228, E-mail: [email protected].

Clarance E. Burden,
US & FCS Senior Budget Analyst, Commercial Service Trade Missions 
Program.
[FR Doc. 2010-27249 Filed 10-27-10; 8:45 am]
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