[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 184 (Thursday, September 22, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58772-58774]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-24289]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration


Safety & Security Trade Mission; Mexico City and Monterrey, 
Mexico

AGENCY: International Trade Administration.

ACTION: Notice.

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Mission Description

    The United States Department of Commerce, International Trade 
Administration, U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service (CS) is organizing 
an executive-led Safety and Security trade mission to Mexico City and 
Monterrey, Mexico, for January 30-February 2, 2012. This mission is 
intended to focus on a variety of U.S. industry and service providers, 
particularly those related to residential and industrial facility 
safety/security, personal protection, logistics and supply chain 
protection, law enforcement and public security. This mission 
specifically excludes munitions and items intended for military and 
defense purposes.
    The mission will introduce mission participants to end-users and 
prospective partners whose needs and capabilities are targeted to the 
respective U.S. participant's strengths. Participating in an official 
U.S. industry delegation, rather than traveling to Mexico 
independently, will enhance the companies' ability to secure meetings 
with potential partners and buyers. The mission will include meetings 
with Federal, state and local government representatives; Mexican 
customs officials; airport and transportation authorities; police and 
law enforcement officials; and private sector industrial groups.

Commercial Setting

    The nearly $4 billion in annual trade between the United States and 
Mexico is fueled in large part by industrial manufacturing centers 
located throughout northern and central Mexico, which is also supported 
by an ever-growing national cargo transportation industry. With growing 
concerns over drug cartel related violence, particularly along the 
border, U.S. and Mexican companies alike have taken steps to protect 
their business investments, specifically in terms of safety and 
security of personnel, physical assets and supply chain logistics. 
Public and private sector investment in safety and security services 
and equipment is growing, particularly as companies are taking extra 
measures to ensure protection for their employees, such as the use of 
private security companies and armored vehicles. For a variety of 
products and services related to safety and security, U.S. companies 
can expect excellent sales prospects in both the public and private 
sectors of the Mexican market.
    Given its dominance in this sector, Mexico City is the main stop on 
the mission. Many of the country's top distributors are based in this 
market, as well as procurement decision makers at the Federal level. 
The timing of this mission will allow new to market companies the 
chance to identify sales representatives and distributors in time for 
ExpoSeguridad (April 24-26, 2012), Mexico's leading security trade 
show. The second stop of this trade mission will be Monterrey, Mexico's 
northern financial and manufacturing heartland. Mexico's largest 
industrial groups are headquartered in Monterrey, including 
manufacturers of beer, steel, glass, and cement, as well as national 
manufacturing industries such as automotive, electronics, household 
goods and software. The corporate response to security threats in 
Monterrey, as in other regions, has been increased investment in safety 
and security solutions to protect company assets, particularly 
employees, both within the plant as well as beyond facility perimeters.
    Best Prospects: Opportunities in the public security and personal 
protection markets could include protective gear (bullet-proof vests 
and clothing), forensics, trace detection equipment, armoring, 
specialty vehicles, metal detectors, non-intrusive scanning equipment, 
mobile command centers and communications equipment, etc. Residential 
and corporate hot prospects include alarm systems, CCTV and 
surveillance, perimeter protection, locks and safes, home automation 
and fire protection, and ``safe room'' design and construction. For the 
industrial manufacturing sector, best prospects would include 
protective clothing (such as gloves, goggles, hazmat suits, safety 
footwear, anti-static protection, and particulate respirators), as well 
as facilities access controls, surveillance equipment, hazardous 
materials handling, logistics protection and supply chain tracking 
(RFID, GPS). Training and capacity building services (e.g. security 
guards, drivers) are in high demand for all sub-sectors.

Mission Goals

    The short term goals of the Safety & Security Trade Mission to 
Mexico are, (1) To introduce U.S. companies to potential end-users, 
joint-venture partners and other industry representatives in Mexico 
City, Monterrey, and their surrounding areas, and (2) to introduce U.S. 
companies to the industry leaders and government officials in Mexico 
City and Monterrey to learn about various opportunities in the safety 
and security industries.

Mission Scenario

    Upon arrival in Mexico City on January 30, participants will check 
into the hotel, and participate in a commercial briefing on Central 
Mexico, followed by a networking welcome reception at the residence of 
the U.S. Ambassador, where they will meet key government and industry 
contacts in the Mexico City area. The morning of January 31 begins with 
a breakfast event to present the U.S. trade mission companies to a wide 
audience, including Federal/state/municipal government and law 
enforcement representatives from several states and cities across 
Central Mexico, as well as airport operators and transportation 
authorities, industrial manufacturing groups, and other potential 
buyers and end-users. The event will also feature short technical 
presentations from national security experts, as well as an update on 
the Merida Initiative by U.S. Embassy representatives. The morning 
event concludes with one-on-one matchmaking at the hotel with invited

[[Page 58773]]

guests from outside of Mexico City, followed by additional appointments 
in and around Mexico City throughout the remainder of the day. That 
evening, mission participants have the option of participating in a no-
host dinner at a local restaurant--group transportation will be 
provided.
    On February 1, participants will depart Mexico City and travel to 
Monterrey, where they will be welcomed with a commercial briefing 
focused on the unique market that is Northern Mexico and the border 
region, followed by a networking reception with key contacts at the 
Consul General's official residence. Gold Key matchmaking appointments 
will be scheduled throughout the day on February 2, primarily at the 
hotel or other centralized location, to ensure participant security.
    The following items are included in the price of the trade mission:
     Pre-travel webinar briefing, covering Mexican business 
practices and security;
     National promotion of trade mission, including wide 
circulation of printed company directory;
     Welcome reception at Ambassador's residence in Mexico City 
on January 30;
     Continental breakfast during the Mexico City event on 
January 31;
     Networking reception with industry contacts in Monterrey 
on February 1;
     Group transportation to all receptions, and optional no-
host dinner in Mexico City;
     Preferential hotel rates in Mexico City and Monterrey;
     Pre-scheduled meetings with potential partners, 
distributors, end users, or local industry contacts in Mexico City, 
Monterrey and surrounding cities;
     A designated escort/translator to provide assistance 
during scheduled matchmaking meetings.

Proposed Timetable

    The mission program will begin on the evening of Monday, January 
30, 2012, and continue through the evening of February 2, 2012.

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January 30................................  Mexico City.
                                            Commercial Briefing: Central
                                             Mexico market, Federal/
                                             state government
                                             procurement.
                                            Welcome reception at
                                             Ambassador's Residence.
January 31................................  Mexico City.
                                            Breakfast Event with
                                             Federal, State and Local
                                             Representatives.
                                            One-on-one meetings with
                                             potential clients,
                                             distributors/
                                             representatives.
                                            Group dinner at local
                                             restaurant (no host).
February 1................................  Mexico City/Monterrey.
                                            Breakfast (no host).
                                            Depart Mexico City.
                                            Arrival/Hotel check-in
                                             Monterrey.
                                            Evening Reception at Consul
                                             General's Residence.
February 2................................  Monterrey.
                                            Breakfast (no host).
                                            Commercial Briefing:
                                             Northern Mexico market,
                                             industrial security, border
                                             business.
                                            Gold Key matchmaking
                                             meetings with potential
                                             clients, distributors/
                                             representatives.
                                            Late departure Monterrey or
                                             overnight stay
                                             (recommended).
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Participation Requirements

    All parties interested in participating in the Safety & Security 
Trade Mission to Mexico must complete and submit an application for 
consideration by U.S. Department of Commerce. All applicants will be 
evaluated on their ability to meet certain conditions and to satisfy 
the selection criteria as outlined below. This mission has a goal of a 
minimum of 15 and a maximum of 20 companies to be selected to 
participate in the mission from the applicant pool. U.S. companies 
already doing business in Mexico 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 on 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 US $ 3,500 
for large firms and $3,000 for a small or medium-sized enterprise 
(SME).\1\ The fee for each additional firm representative (large firm 
or SME) is $300. Expenses for air travel (to Mexico City, Monterrey, 
and return), lodging, meals and incidentals will be the responsibility 
of each 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/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 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.

Selection Criteria for Participation

    Selection will be based on the following criteria:
     Suitability of a company's products or services to the 
mission's goals.
     Applicant's potential for business in Mexico, including 
likelihood of exports resulting from the trade mission.
     Consistency of the applicant's goals and objectives with 
the stated scope of the trade mission (i.e., the sectors indicated in 
the mission description).
    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, posting on the Commerce 
Department trade mission calendar (http://export.gov/trademissions/eg_main_023185.asp) and other Internet Web sites, press releases to 
general and trade media, direct mail, 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 no 
later than November 15, 2011. CS Mexico will review all applications 
immediately after the deadline. We will inform applicants of selection 
decisions as soon as possible after November 15, 2011. Applications 
received after that

[[Page 58774]]

date will be considered only if space and scheduling constraints 
permit.

Contacts

U.S. Commercial Service Mexico Contacts

Ms. Dinah McDougall, Commercial Officer, U.S. Commercial Service 
Mexico--Mexico City, Tel: (011-52-55) 5140-2620, 
[email protected].
Ms. Silvia Cardenas, Commercial Specialist, U.S. Commercial Service 
Mexico--Mexico City, Tel: (011-52-55) 5140-2670, 
[email protected].
Mr. John Howell, Commercial Officer, U.S. Commercial Service Mexico--
Monterrey, Tel: (011-52-81) 8047-3223, [email protected].
Mr. Mario Vida[ntilde]a, Commercial Specialist, U.S. Commercial Service 
Mexico--Monterrey, Tel: (011-52-81) 8047-3118, [email protected].

Elnora Moye,
Commercial Service Trade Mission Program, U.S. Department of Commerce.
[FR Doc. 2011-24289 Filed 9-21-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-FP-P