[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 160 (Thursday, August 18, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51350-51351]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-21108]


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 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration


Aerospace Executive Service Trade Mission (AESTM) to Seoul, Korea

AGENCY: International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY:

Mission Description

    The U.S. Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration 
(ITA), Aerospace & Defense Technologies Team and the U.S. Commercial 
Service in Seoul (CS Korea) are organizing an Aerospace Executive 
Service Trade Mission (AESTM) to Seoul in conjunction with the Seoul 
ADEX 2011 (International Aerospace & Defense Exhibition) (http://www.seoulairshow.com).
    The AESTM, to be led by a senior official of the Department of 
Commerce, will include representatives from a variety of U.S. aerospace 
and defense industry manufacturers and service providers. These mission 
participants will be introduced to international agents, distributors 
and end-users whose capabilities are targeted to each U.S. 
participant's needs. Mission participants will also be briefed by key 
local industry players and Joint U.S. Military Affairs Group--Korea 
(JUSMAG-K) who can advise on local market conditions and opportunities.

Commercial Setting

    The Republic of Korea (Korea) is an economic leader in East Asia. 
Korea is the 7th largest market for U.S. exports as well as the 9th 
largest market for U.S. aerospace exports with $3.0 billion of U.S. 
aerospace exports in 2010. Korea is a growing market for the aerospace 
and defense industry, with U.S. aerospace exports growing 51% from 2004 
and 2010. With the world's sixth largest military, and continued 
spending for new weapon systems as part of its defense modernization 
program, Korea continues to attract the interest of U.S. defense 
suppliers. In addition to its traditional focus on air power, Seoul 
ADEX 2011 will also incorporate land forces technology.
    Seoul ADEX is one of the world's premier aerospace and defense 
technology events. The 2009 ADEX show was the largest to date and 
featured 273 exhibitors from 27 countries, 72 VIPs from 41 countries, 
and approximately 20,000 trade visitors. Encompassing all civil and 
military sectors of the international aerospace and ground support 
industry, Seoul ADEX is the foremost platform for companies to showcase 
their products and services in the region. Attendees and visitors to 
the Seoul ADEX include foreign and Korean VIPs, government officials, 
senior company managers, and high-level executives involved in the 
aerospace and defense market in Korea and the rest of the region.
    With a close working relationship between the U.S. and Korean 
governments and private aerospace and defense companies, the AESTM 
service at this major aerospace and defense show will assist American 
companies in making important contact with the industry's key players 
in this region.
    The U.S.-Korea Trade Agreement (KORUS) would provide significant 
commercial opportunities to U.S. aerospace exporters, including duty-
free treatment for all U.S. aerospace exports to Korea within three 
years of implementation of KORUS (Korean aerospace tariffs currently 
average 3.5 percent, ranging up to 8 percent).

Mission Goals

    The goal of the AESTM at the Seoul ADEX 2011 is to facilitate an 
effective presence for small- and medium-sized companies while 
combining aspects of a trade mission, such as one on one pre-scheduled 
business-to-business meetings, trade show participation, and networking 
activities, in one package.
    The AESTM Program enables U.S. aerospace companies to familiarize 
themselves with this important trade fair, to conduct market research 
and to explore export opportunities through pre-arranged meetings with 
potential partners. AESTM participants will be supported by 
knowledgeable Commercial Service specialists focused on furthering 
their company-specific objectives.

Mission Scenario

    Participants will have individual company kiosk space within the 
U.S. Pavilion where they can display company literature and conduct 
meetings with visitors to the air show. Company information and 
literature will be forwarded by the companies to CS Korea in advance 
whereupon CS Korea will search for relevant partners and coordinate 
logistics with respect to arranging meetings for each participant at 
the show. Prior to the end of the AESTM program, CS Korea staff will 
undertake a debriefing session with mission participants as well as 
counsel and coordinate with them on appropriate follow-up procedures.
    In summary, participation in the AESTM Program includes:
     Pre-show Outreach and Press Release by CS Korea;
     Pre-show breakfast briefing on October 17, 2011, by CS 
Korea and other inter agencies in American Embassy such as JUSMAG-K;

[[Page 51351]]

     Daily Transportation between AESTM hotel and ADEX 2011 and 
vice versa;
     Pre-scheduled meetings with potential partners, 
distributors, and/or end users and on-site meeting if requested;
     One show entry pass per company representative;
     Participation in U.S. Exhibitors Welcome Reception on 
October 17 by the show organizer;
     One invitation to the U.S. VIP reception per participant 
by the U.S. Ambassador to Korea;
     Access to Official U.S. Pavilion/Business Information 
Office amenities, including meeting area;
     Individual kiosk space within the U.S. Pavilion for 
display of company literature, poster and meetings;
     Copy of the official ADEX 2011 Air Show Exhibitor's 
Directory;
     Copy of AES Trade Mission Directory;
     On-site AESTM program coordinator.

Proposed Timetable

    Mission Timetable: ITA Aerospace & Defense Technologies Team 
members arrive in Seoul prior to the show. The proposed program is 
below:

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October 16 (Sunday)....................  AES Participants Arrive.
A.M., October 17 (Monday)..............  Program and pre-show briefing
                                          at hotel.
P.M., October 17 (Monday)..............  1-on-1 meeting (2-3 meetings)
                                          at hotel.
Evening, October 17 (Monday)...........  Show Organizer's Welcome
                                          Reception at official hotel of
                                          the show organizer (6:30-8:30
                                          p.m.).
A.M., October 18 (Tuesday).............  Show Opens.
P.M., October 18 (Tuesday).............  1-on-1 meeting at Seoul ADEX
                                          2011.
Evening, October 18 (Tuesday)..........  Welcome Reception (subject to
                                          date change) by the U.S.
                                          Ambassador.
A.M., October 19 (Wednesday)...........  1-on-1 meeting at Seoul ADEX
                                          2011.
P.M., October 19 (Wednesday)...........  Follow-Up meetings.
October 20 (Thursday)..................  On site meeting with exhibitors
                                          upon request.
October 21 (Friday)....................  On your own schedule.
October 22-23 (Saturday-Sunday)........  Public Days.
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Participation Requirements

    All parties interested in participating in the Aerospace Executive 
Service Trade Mission must complete and submit an application 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 8 and a maximum 
of 11 companies will be selected to participate in the mission from the 
applicant pool. U.S. companies already doing business in Korea as well 
as U.S. companies seeking to enter the market 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 Department of Commerce in the form of a participation 
fee is required. The participation fee will be $5,000 for a small or 
medium-sized enterprise (SME) \1\ and $5,500 for large firms. The fee 
for each additional firm representative (SME or large) is $300. 
Expenses for travel, lodging, meals, and incidentals will be the 
responsibility of each trade mission participant.
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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/contractingopportunities/owners/basics/whatismallbusiness/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.
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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 51 percent U.S. content of the value of the finished 
product or service.

Selection Criteria for Participation

     Suitability of the company's products or services to the 
Korean market.
     Consistency of the applicant's goals and objectives with 
the stated scope and design of the mission.
     Applicant's potential for business in Korea, including 
likelihood of exports resulting from 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 not 
considered during the selection process.

Timeframe for Recruitment and Applications

    Mission recruitment will be conducted in an open and public manner, 
including publication in the Federal Register (http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr), posting on ITA's trade mission calendar--http://www.trade.gov/trade-missions--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 August 8, 2011, and conclude 
August 26, 2011. The U.S. Department of Commerce will review 
applications and make selection decisions on a rolling basis, and will 
inform all applicants of selection decisions as soon as possible. 
Applications received after the August 26 deadline will be considered 
only if space and scheduling constraints permit.

Contacts

    Jason Sproule, Senior International Trade Specialist, Irvine U.S. 
Export Assistance Center, 2302 Martin Court, Irvine, California 92612, 
Tel: 949-660-7105, Fax: 949-660-1338, [email protected].

Elnora Moye,
U.S. Department of Commerce, Commercial Service/GTP.
[FR Doc. 2011-21108 Filed 8-17-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-FP-P