[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 224 (Tuesday, November 20, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69592-69593]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-28222]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration


U.S. Multi-Sector Trade Mission to South India and Sri Lanka

AGENCY: International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Amendment to Notice.

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SUMMARY: The United States Department of Commerce, International Trade 
Administration, U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service is amending the 
Notice regarding the U.S. Multi-Sector Trade Mission to South India 
(Chennai and Cochin) and Sri Lanka (Colombo) February 3-8, 2013, 
published at 77 FR 48499, August 14, 2012 to revise the application 
deadline from November 30, 2012 to the new deadline of December 21, 
2012, to provide for selection of applicants on a rolling basis, and to 
expand the eligibility to include U.S. trade associations.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

San Jose (Silicon Valley) Export Assistance Center, Aileen Crowe Nandi, 
Commercial Officer, 55 S. Market Street, Suite 1040, San Jose, CA 
95113, Tel: (408) 535-2757, ex. 102, Email: [email protected].
U.S. Commercial Service India, James P. Golsen, Principal Commercial 
Officer for South India, U.S. Commercial Service, Chennai, India, Tel: 
+91-44-2857-4209, Email: [email protected].
U.S. Commercial Service Washington, DC, Arica Young, U.S. Commercial 
Service, Washington, DC, Tel: 202.482.2833, Email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In August 2012 the Department of Commerce 
initiated recruitment for participation in the U.S. Multi-Sector Trade 
Mission to Chennai and Cochin, India and Colombo, Sri Lanka on February 
3-8, 2013, published at 77 FR 48499, August 14, 2012, as previously 
amended by notice at 77 FR 59899 (Oct. 1, 2012) adding architectural 
services as a targeted sector for this mission. Due to the Thanksgiving 
holidays and disruptions related to Hurricane Sandy, it has been 
determined that additional time is needed to allow for additional 
recruitment and marketing in support of the mission. Applications now 
will be accepted through December 21, 2012. Interested firms and trade 
associations in the architecture, infrastructure, hospitality, 
healthcare, and environmental and information technologies sectors, 
including firms and trade associations that have not already submitted 
an application, are encouraged to apply. Applications will be accepted 
after the deadline only to the extent that space remains and scheduling 
constraints permit. In addition, to facilitate the ability of firms to 
take the mission into account in their business planning, US&FCS will 
begin to make selection decisions beginning November 15, 2012.
    As originally published, the Federal Register notice of the trade 
mission stated that only U.S. companies were eligible to participate in 
the trade mission. In response to the interest expressed by trade 
associations, US&FCS is amending the notice to expand the eligibility 
to include U.S. trade associations.

Amendments

    The Fees and Expenses, Conditions for Participation, Selection 
Criteria for Participation, and Timeframe for Recruitment and 
Applications sections of the U.S. Multi-Sector Trade Mission to Chennai 
and Cochin, India and Colombo, Sri Lanka are amended to read as 
follows:

Fees and Expenses

    After a company or trade association 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 is $4,481 for large firms and $4,303 for small or 
medium-sized enterprises (SME) \1\ and trade associations. The fee for 
each additional representative (large firm or SME/trade association) is 
$750. Expenses for travel,

[[Page 69593]]

lodging, some 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

    Applicants must submit a completed and signed mission application 
and supplemental application materials, including adequate information 
on the company's (or in the case of a trade association, member 
companies') products and/or services, primary market objectives, and 
goals for participation. If the Department of Commerce receives an 
incomplete application, the Department may either: reject the 
application, request additional information/clarification, 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, are 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, the applicant must certify that for each company to be 
represented by the association, the products and/or 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

     Suitability of the company's (or in the case of a trade 
association, member companies') products or services to the mission 
goals.
     Applicant's (or in the case of a trade association, member 
companies') potential for business in India and Sri Lanka, including 
likelihood of exports resulting from the mission.
     Consistency of the applicant's (or in the case of a trade 
association, member companies') goals and objectives with the stated 
scope of the mission.
    Additional factors, such as diversity of company size, type, 
location, and demographics, 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, posting on the Commerce 
Department trade mission calendar--http://export.gov/trademissions/
index.asp--and other Internet Web sites, press releases to general and 
trade media, direct mail, broadcast fax, notices to industry trade 
associations and other multiplier groups, and publicity at industry 
meetings, symposia, conferences, and trade shows.
    Recruitment for the mission began in August 2012 and will conclude 
December 21, 2012 for U.S. company and trade association participants. 
The U.S. Department of Commerce will being reviewing applications and 
making selection decisions on a rolling basis beginning November 15, 
2012, until the maximum of 20 participants is selected. Applications 
received by U.S. companies after October 12, 2012 and by U.S. trade 
associations after November 12, 2012, will be considered only if space 
and scheduling constraints permit.

Elnora Moye,
Trade Program Assistant.
[FR Doc. 2012-28222 Filed 11-19-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-FP-P