[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 166 (Monday, August 27, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51759-51761]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-21051]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration


U.S. Medical Mission to Brazil; Sao Paulo, Brazil, May 21-24, 
2013

AGENCY: International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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Mission Description

    The United States Department of Commerce (USDOC), International 
Trade Administration, U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service (CS) is 
organizing a Medical Trade Mission to Brazil from May 21-24, 2013 in 
conjunction with Hospitalar 2013--the region's major healthcare trade 
show--in Sao Paulo, Brazil's major healthcare industry hub. In addition 
to providing exposure to Brazilian buyers, the trade show also attracts 
a high number of visitors from Mexico, Central and South America, as 
well as attendees from Europe, Asia and Africa.
    The Medical Trade Mission to Brazil is intended to include 
representatives from a variety of U.S. medical/healthcare industry 
manufacturers (equipment/devices, laboratory equipment, emergency 
equipment, diagnostic, physiotherapy and orthopedic, healthcare 
information technology, and other allied sectors), service providers, 
and trade associations. Participating in an official U.S. industry 
delegation, rather than traveling to Brazil on their own, will enhance 
the participants' ability to secure meetings in Brazil. Mission 
participants will have tabletop exhibits at the CS booth at Hospitalar 
and prearranged one-on-one appointments at the tables to introduce the 
participants to end-users and prospective partners whose needs and 
capabilities are best suited to each U.S. participant's strengths. The 
participants also will obtain first-hand information through briefings 
about the regulations, policies and procedures in the healthcare 
industry. Trade mission participants will have the opportunity to 
interact extensively with Embassy/Consulate Officials and Commercial 
Service (CS) Brazil healthcare specialist to discuss industry 
developments, opportunities, and sales strategies.

Commercial Setting

    Brazil is the largest medical equipment market in South America. 
The total market for medical equipment in Brazil should continue to 
expand approximately 15% through 2012. Brazil is both a major medical 
equipment producer and importer. This industry consists of a number of 
related products and services, including:
     Medical equipment and devices;
     Dental equipment and products;
     Radiological and diagnostic imaging equipment; and
     Laboratory equipment.
    Brazilian medical equipment revenues in 2011 reached an estimated 
US$6.056 billion, which represents an increase of 20% from the previous 
year. The United States accounts for approximately 30% of the import 
market, with U.S. sales mainly going through local agents, distributors 
and importers who sell to hospitals and clinics. The market for 
electro-medical equipment is around US$200 million, which represents 
approximately 50% of total sales in Latin America. In 2011, imports for 
in vitro diagnostics reagents and devices increased approximately 20%.

                                                Medical Equipment
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                                                                       2011            2012            2013
                 In US$ billion                        2010         (estimated)     (estimated)     (estimated)
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Total Market Size...............................           5.047           6.056           6.964           8.009
Total Local Production..........................           2.013           2.415           2.898           3.477
Total Exports...................................           0.633           0.759           0.910           1.092
Total Imports...................................           3.667           4.400           4.976           5.624
Imports from the U.S............................           1.100           1.320           1.493           1.687
Exchange Rate: 1 US$............................           1.67            1.67   ..............  ..............
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    There are few high-quality Brazilian manufacturers of advanced 
medical products, so Brazil's reliance on imports should continue for 
some time. Local buyers view U.S. and other foreign products (mainly 
Canadian and European) as having comparable quality and reliability. 
Thus, financing terms often become the differentiating criteria in 
making a sale.

Best Prospects/Services

    Brazil's strengthened currency has meant that private and public 
hospitals have greater purchasing power, and with continued expansion 
of Brazil's private healthcare sector, the market should grow. 
Approximately 80% of all products used in hospitals have no similar 
manufacturing in the country and must be imported. New opportunities 
for U.S. exporters abound, particularly for advanced medical equipment, 
disposables, diagnostic devices, implants and components.

Opportunities

    The market for home healthcare products has been increasing in 
recent years. Brazilian health insurance companies are responsible for 
paying 99% of the costs related to home care treatment, and as such, 
the U.S. Commercial Service sees the market for home healthcare 
products growing dramatically during the coming years. Brazil's 
Regional Nursing Council is currently developing procedures on how to 
regulate this market, including standards for health professionals.
    In addition to the attractive size of the Brazilian medical market, 
U.S. exporters should consider the opportunities offered by Mercosur, 
and use Brazil as a ``spring board'' for export into Argentina, Uruguay 
and Paraguay. Since compulsory product registration before sale is 
required for all of MERCOSUR countries, U.S. exporters should consult a 
local lawyer/consultant before signing a contract with any agent/
distributor.
    The growth in this industry makes it very attractive for U.S. 
companies, both large companies already doing business in the market 
but also and especially small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and 
new-to-market (NTM) companies.

Mission Goals

    The goal of the Medical Trade Mission to Brazil is to (1) 
Familiarize the participants with the current healthcare market as well 
as the developments taking place in Brazil, (2) introduce participants 
to strategic

[[Page 51760]]

partners to learn about various regulatory procedures as well as 
policies in the healthcare sector, and (3) and introduce participants 
to Brazilian companies for potential partnerships.

Mission Scenario

    U.S. participants will be counseled before and after the mission by 
U.S. Export Assistance Center trade specialists, primarily by members 
of the Global Healthcare Team. Participation in the mission will 
include the following:
     Pre-travel briefings/Webinar on subjects ranging from 
business practices in Brazil to security;
     Consulate briefings on the business climate, political 
scenario, medical/healthcare industry scenario;
     Pre-scheduled meetings with potential partners, 
distributors, end users, or local industry contacts;
     Showcase your company using a tabletop display at 
Hospitalar 2013--includes table with two chairs, unlimited Internet 
access;
     Complimentary promotion and listing on the official 
Hospitalar 2013 portal;
     Listed in Hospitalar 2013 hard copy exhibitor catalog;
     Advanced promotion to top local contacts of the U.S. 
Commercial Service network in Brazil, Mexico, and throughout Central 
and South America.

Proposed Timetable

    Mission participants will be encouraged to arrive Monday, May 20, 
2013 to allow time to adjust to their new surroundings before the 
mission program begins on Tuesday, May 21.

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Tuesday, May 21...................  Sao Paulo.
                                    11 a.m.-11: 45 a.m.: Consulate &
                                     Industry briefing by U.S.
                                     Department of Commerce at U.S.
                                     Commercial Service Pavilion.
                                    Noon to 9 p.m. trade show hours.
                                    One-on-one appointments begin.
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Wednesday, May 22.................  Sao Paulo.
                                    Noon to 9 p.m. trade show hours.
                                    One-on-one appointments continue.
                                    No-host Group Dinner.
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Thursday, May 23..................  Sao Paulo.
                                    Noon to 9 p.m. trade show hours.
                                    One-on-one appointments continue.
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Friday, May 24....................  Sao Paulo.
                                    Noon to 9 p.m. trade show hours,
                                    One-on-one appointments end.
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Participation Requirements

    All parties interested in participating in the Brazil Medical 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 satisfy the selection criteria 
as outlined below. A minimum of 8 and a maximum of 12 companies will be 
selected to participate in the mission. U.S. companies already doing 
business in Brazil as well as U.S. companies seeking to enter the 
Brazilian market for the first time may apply.

Fees and Expenses

    After a company or organization 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 per company will 
be $3,850 for small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) \1\ and $5475 
for large companies. This includes entry passes to the trade show, and 
no additional fees/registration will need to be processed to exhibit at 
Hospitalar 2013. Expenses for local translator, local transportation, 
lodging, meals, incidentals, and travel 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/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, (or in the case 
of a trade association or trade organization, information on the 
products and/or services of the companies to be represented on the 
trade mission), 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 fifty-one percent U.S. content. In the case of a 
trade association or trade organization, the applicant must certify 
that, for each company to be represented by the trade association or 
trade organization, the products and services the represented company 
seeks to export 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 (or, in the case of a trade 
association or trade organization, represented companies') products or 
services to the mission's goals.
     Company's (or, in the case of a trade association or trade 
organization, represented companies') potential for business in Brazil, 
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.

[[Page 51761]]

    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://export.gov/trademissions--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 no 
later than March 8, 2013. The U.S. Department of Commerce will review 
applications and make selection decisions on a rolling basis until the 
maximum of twelve (12) participants is reached. We will inform all 
applicants of selection decisions as soon as possible after the 
applications are reviewed. Applications received after the March 8 
deadline will be considered only if space and scheduling constraints 
permit.

How To Apply

    Applications can be completed on-line at the Trade Mission Web site 
or can be obtained by contacting Pompeya Lambrecht at the U.S. 
Department of Commerce (see contact details below.) Completed 
applications should be submitted to Pompeya Lambrecht.

Contacts

    U.S. Commercial Service Healthcare Team: Ms. Pompeya Lambrecht, 
International Trade Specialist, U.S. Commercial Service, U.S. 
Department of Commerce, 2800 S. Randolph Street, Suite 800, Arlington, 
VA 22206, Phone: 703.756.1707, [email protected].
    U.S. Commercial Service in Brazil: Mr. Jefferson Oliveira, U.S. 
Commercial Service Sao Paulo, Phone: 011.55.11.5186.7136, 
[email protected].

Elnora Moye,
Trade Program Assistant.
[FR Doc. 2012-21051 Filed 8-24-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-FP-P