[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 173 (Wednesday, September 7, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55347-55349]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-22751]


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 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration


Aerospace Executive Service Trade Mission at Singapore Air Show

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 an 
Aerospace Executive Service Trade Mission (AESTM) to Singapore in 
conjunction with the Singapore Airshow 2012 (http://www.singaporeairshow.com.sg).
    The AESTM is designed to include participants from a variety of 
U.S. aerospace-industry manufacturers and service providers. The 
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 leaders who can advise on local market conditions and 
opportunities.
    In addition to the above-mentioned services, the Commercial Service 
will again bring its AsiaNow Showtime program to the Singapore Air 
Show, through which mission participants can meet one-on-one with 
Commercial Service aerospace and defense industry specialists from 
country markets throughout Asia. The industry specialists will be on 
hand to discuss market trends and opportunities in their respective 
markets.

Commercial Setting

    The Singapore Air Show (SAS) is Asia's largest aerospace and 
defense event and one of the top three air shows in the world, serving 
as an international marketplace and networking platform for the global 
aerospace community. Encompassing all civil and military sectors of the 
international aerospace industry, the SAS is the foremost platform for 
companies to showcase their products and services in the Asia-Pacific 
region. The 2010 SAS featured over 43,000 trade attendees from 133 
countries, participation from 897 companies from 36 countries and 
closed with deals and announcements worth US $10 billion.
    Asia Pacific is widely considered the most promising market for the 
aerospace industry worldwide. As a leading global aviation hub in Asia 
Pacific, Singapore (the U.S.' 10th largest export market in 2010) is 
well positioned to take advantage of growth opportunities stemming from 
the region's brisk international trade, tourism and investments. U.S. 
aerospace firms looking to establish or expand business in Singapore 
and other markets in this dynamic region stand to benefit from 
participation in the AESTM in the context of the Singapore Air Show, 
which is the region's largest air show.
    Singapore is the 8th largest market for U.S. aerospace exports. In 
2010, U.S. aerospace exports were $3.5 billion, a 37% increase from 
2009 ($2.7 billion). Singapore is the regional leader in aerospace 
maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), manufacturing, and research and 
development. Since 1992, Singapore's aerospace industry production has 
grown at an average rate of 13.3%, to become the most comprehensive MRO 
hub in Asia.
    Aerospace is one of the fastest-growing industries in Singapore, 
and the long-term outlook remains positive. According to Frost and 
Sullivan, the business research and consulting firm, the Asia Pacific 
aviation industry is experiencing a faster recovery than anticipated. 
In fact, Frost and Sullivan states that the core of aerospace MRO 
activity is shifting towards Asia. This has created a market climate 
where Asian economies are leading the pace of aviation recovery. Asia 
Pacific is expected to dominate about 40% (U.S. $270 billion) of the 
global airline revenue by 2020. The cargo business has also shown 
equally buoyant growth, with Asia being one of the major hubs of the 
air freight business. Also, the rising GDP rates across Asia and the 
increasing disposable income of the population will lead to higher 
demand from commercial passengers. Singapore is particularly well-
equipped to capture the demand from aviation-related services from this 
market given its MRO hub status, which will translate into greater 
opportunities for American suppliers to sell to this lucrative market 
and beyond.

Mission Goals

    The goal of the Aerospace Executive Service at the 2012 Singapore 
Air Show is to promote U.S. exports. To this end, the AESTM will 
facilitate an effective presence for small- and medium-sized U.S. 
companies by combining aspects of a trade mission, trade show presence 
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. The Aerospace Executive Service also allows U.S. 
companies to have a presence at the show in the form of kiosk space, 
providing them an enhanced image and an extended level of engagement at 
the show site. AESTM participants will be supported by knowledgeable 
Commercial Service specialists familiar with the firms' objectives and 
with the Asian aerospace market.

Mission Scenario

    Within the U.S. Pavilion at the 2012 Singapore Air Show, the 
Commercial Service will maintain a 64-square-meter booth that will 
include 36 square meters of kiosk space for the mission participants, 
where they can display company literature and conduct meetings with 
visitors to the air show, including buyer delegations recruited by 
Commercial Service staff in other Pacific Rim countries under the 
AsiaNow program. The Commercial Service booth will also house an area 
for meetings with Commercial Service staff and a Business Information 
Office (BIO) reception area (28 square meters). Commercial Service 
staff and the AES coordinator will be available to provide information 
and assistance throughout the duration of the AESTM at the Singapore 
Air Show. They will also promote and refer interested parties to AESTM 
participants.
    In summary, participation in the AESTM Program includes:
     Pre-show breakfast briefing on February 13 (U.S. 
Ambassador to Singapore will be invited to be the lead presenter along 
with industry representatives);
     Daily transportation to and from AESTM hotel and Singapore 
Air Show;
     Pre-scheduled meetings with potential partners, 
distributors, and end users recruited by the Commercial Service;

[[Page 55348]]

     One show entry pass per company representative;
     Participation in U.S. Exhibitors Welcome Reception;
     One invitation to the U.S. VIP reception per participant;
     Access to Official U.S. Pavilion/BIO amenities, including 
meeting area and shared business center when not in use for AsiaNow 
one-on-one appointments;
     Individual kiosk space (3.0 m\2\) within the U.S. Pavilion 
for displaying company literature and posters and conducting meetings;
     Copy of the official 2012 Singapore Air Show Exhibitor's 
Directory;
     Meetings with Commercial Service aerospace and defense 
industry specialists from U.S. Embassies and Consulates across Asia;
     Assistance from on-site AESTM program coordinator.
    Proposed Timetable

 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
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Monday, February 13...............  Briefing at the AESTM hotel on
                                     program and country/regional
                                     market.
                                    One-on-one business matchmaking
                                     appointments
                                    Evening reception for U.S.
                                     exhibitors.
Tuesday, February 14..............  Attend U.S. Pavilion opening with
                                     VIP delegates at Singapore Air
                                     Show.
                                    One-on-one meetings on the show
                                     floor and walk show floor.
Wednesday, February 13............  One-on-one meetings on the show
                                     floor or participants to walk show
                                     floor.
                                    Evening U.S. VIP Reception.
Thursday, February 16-Friday,       AsiaNow Showtime Program,
 February 17.                        participants walk show floor, and
                                     any follow-up meetings.
                                    Friday afternoon AES Trade Mission
                                     debrief.
                                    Friday evening no host dinner
                                     (optional).
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Participation Requirements

    All parties interested in participating in the AESTM at the 
Singapore Air Show 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 maximum of 12 companies 
will be selected to participate in the mission from the applicant pool. 
U.S. companies already doing business in Singapore as well as U.S. 
companies seeking to enter the Singaporean and other Asian markets 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 $7,400 for large firms 
and $6,600 for a small or medium-sized enterprise (SME).* The fee for 
each additional firm representative (large firm or SME) is $500. 
Expenses for travel to and from Singapore, lodging, 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/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.
     Each applicant's products must meet the Singapore Air Show 
trade fair rules, which can be found at http://www.singaporeAirShow.com.sg/.

Selection Criteria for Participation

    Selection will be based on the following criteria:
     Suitability of the company's products or services to the 
market;
     Applicant's potential for business in India and in the 
region, including likelihood of exports resulting from the mission;
     Consistency of the applicant's goals and objectives with 
the stated scope of the mission;
    Diversity of company size, sector or subsector, and location may 
also 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.

Timeframe for Recruitment and Applications

    Mission recruitment will be conducted in an open and public manner, 
including publication in the Federal Register and posting on the 
Commerce Department trade missions calendar--http://www.ita.doc.gov/doctm/tmcal.html--and other Internet Web sites, publication in domestic 
trade publications and association newsletters, mailings from internal 
mailing lists, faxes to internal aerospace clients, e-mails to 
aerospace distribution lists, and promotion at industry meetings, 
symposia, conferences, trade shows, and other events. The ITA Aerospace 
and Defense Technology Team members in U.S. Export Assistance Centers 
will have the lead in recruiting the AESTM.
    Recruitment for the mission will begin immediately and conclude no 
later than November 28, 2011. The mission will open on a first come 
first served basis. Applications received after November 28, 2011, will 
be considered only if space and scheduling constraints permit.

Contacts

Aerospace and Defense Technology Team Contact

    Stephanie Heckel, Greensboro U.S. Export Assistance Center, 342 N. 
Elm Street, Greensboro, NC 27402, Tel: (336) 333-5345, Fax: (336) 333-
5158, E-mail: [email protected].

U.S. Commercial Service in Singapore

    Hawcheng Ng, American Embassy, 27 Napier Road, Singapore 258508, 
Tel. 011-(65) 6476-9037, Fax 011-(65)

[[Page 55349]]

6476-9080, E-mail: [email protected].

Elnora Moye,
Commercial Service Trade Mission Program, U.S. Department of Commerce.
[FR Doc. 2011-22751 Filed 9-6-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-FP-P