[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 46 (Friday, March 8, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14979-14980]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-05379]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration


Trade Mission to Egypt and Kuwait

AGENCY: International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Replacement Notice.

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SUMMARY: The United States Department of Commerce, International Trade 
Administration, U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service is replacing the 
Notice regarding the Trade Mission to Egypt April 14-16, 2013, 
published at 78 FR 7752, February 4, 2013. The effect of this notice is 
to expand the mission eligibility to companies in all sectors and/or 
industries. All companies that have applied to this mission to date, 
and all companies that apply by March 14, 2013 will be considered.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In June 2012 the Department of Commerce 
initiated recruitment for participation in the U.S. Trade Mission to 
Egypt and Kuwait March 10-14, 2013, published at 77 FR 33439, June 6, 
2012. In 77 FR 71777, December 4, 2012, the Department of Commerce 
announced that the application deadline for the mission was extended 
until January 18, 2013. Since then, due to unforeseen circumstances, 
the Kuwait portion of the mission has been cancelled, and Trade Mission 
to Egypt will be April 14 to 16 and the application deadline March 14. 
Interested firms 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.

Replacement

    The Trade Mission to Egypt and Kuwait is replaced to read as 
follows:

Mission Description

    The U.S. Department of Commerce, International Trade 
Administration, U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service is organizing a 
Trade Mission to Cairo, Egypt to explore opportunities in all 
industries.
    Led by a senior executive of the Department of Commerce or other 
U.S. Government agency, the trade mission will include one-on-one 
business appointments with pre-screened potential buyers, agents, 
distributors and joint venture partners; meetings with national and 
regional government officials, chambers of commerce, and business 
groups; and networking receptions for companies and trade associations 
representing companies interested in expansion into the North African 
and Middle Eastern markets. Meetings will be offered with government 
authorities that can address questions about policies, tariff rates, 
incentives, grid interconnection, regulation, etc.
    The mission will help participating firms and trade associations 
gain market insights, make industry contacts, solidify business 
strategies, and advance specific projects, with the goal of increasing 
U.S. exports to Egypt. Participating in an official U.S. industry 
delegation, rather than traveling to Egypt on their own, will enhance 
the companies' ability to secure meetings in Egypt.

Commercial Setting

    Egypt is strategically located at the gateway of trade for Africa 
and the Middle East. It is a prime location for the transit of goods, 
as well as a key destination for American companies seeking to do 
business in the region.
    Egypt has experienced profound political changes over the past 
year. On February 11, 2011, President Hosni Mubarak's 30-year rule came 
to an end. In January 2012, Egypt seated its first freely and fairly 
elected parliament, and has held a Presidential election. In the 
meantime, the United States remains committed to a strong partnership 
with Egypt.
    As the largest Arab country with a population of 90 million, Egypt 
is the fourth largest export market for U.S. products and services in 
the Middle East. The United States is Egypt's largest bilateral trading 
partner, and the second largest investor. In 2011, bilateral trade 
reached $8.2 billion. The gross domestic product (GDP) grew over five 
percent from 2009 to 2010. According to Business Monitor 
International's forecasts, Egypt's real GDP is expanding 2.1% in 
FY2011/12 and projected to grow 4.9% in FY2012/13 (Egypt's fiscal year 
is July through June). Egyptian law requires that foreign companies 
retain Egyptian commercial agents for public tenders, but they may work 
directly with private companies. Most foreign companies have found it 
beneficial, however, to engage a local agent for private sector 
transactions as well because of their familiarity of the language, law 
and general business practices. Based on geographical location or 
product basis, a firm can appoint multiple agents in Egypt to further 
enhance its success.

Mission Goals

    The goal of the trade mission is to provide U.S. participants with 
first-hand market information, access to government decision makers as 
appropriate and one-on-one meetings with business contacts, including 
potential agents, distributors and partners, so they can position 
themselves to enter or expand their presence in the Egypt.

Mission Scenario

    Cairo is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in Africa. The 
business week runs from Sunday through Thursday.

[[Page 14980]]

Proposed Timetable

Saturday............................  13 April..............  Arrival in Cairo.
Sunday..............................  14 April..............  Orientation and market briefings, business luncheon with American Chamber of Commerce and
                                                               U.S. Ambassador's networking reception.
Monday..............................  15 April..............  One-on-one business appointments; business lunch--General Authority For Investment and
                                                               Free Zones presentation on major public-private partnership projects; group dinner.
Tuesday.............................  16 April..............  One-on-one business appointments.
 

Participation Requirements

    All parties interested in participating in the Trade Mission to 
Egypt must complete and submit an application package for consideration 
by the U.S. 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 15 U.S. companies and/or trade 
associations and maximum of 20 companies and/or trade associations will 
be selected to participate in the mission from the applicant pool. U.S. 
companies or trade associations already doing business with Egypt, as 
well as U.S. companies or trade associations seeking to enter these 
countries for the first time may 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 fee for one representative to 
participate in the mission is $1400 for an SME and $2100 for large 
firms or trade associations. The fee for each additional company or 
association representative (SME or large firm) is $400. Expenses for 
travel, lodging, most meals, interpreters, and incidentals are the 
responsibility of each mission participant. Participants may be able to 
take advantage of Embassy rates for hotel rooms.

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. 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 the company's (or, in the case of a trade 
association or trade organization, represented companies') products or 
services to the targeted markets
 Applicant's (or, in the case of a trade association or trade 
organization, represented companies') potential for business in the 
target markets, including likelihood of exports resulting from the 
mission
     Consistency of the applicant's goals and objectives with 
the stated scope of 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 posting Export.gov--and other Internet Web sites; publication 
in trade publications and association newsletters; direct outreach to 
the Department's clients; posting in the Federal Register; and 
announcements at industry meetings, symposia, conferences, and trade 
shows.
    Recruitment for the mission will begin January 28, 2013 and 
conclude no later than March 14, 2013. The U.S. Department of Commerce 
will review applications and make selection decisions on a rolling 
basis until the maximum of twenty 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 14 
deadline will be considered only if space and scheduling constraints 
permit.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

U.S. Commercial Service, Cairo, Egypt, Dennis Simmons, Deputy Senior 
Commercial Officer, U.S. Commercial Service, Embassy of the United 
States of America, Email: [email protected]., Tel: 2 (02) 2797-
2610.
U.S. Commercial Service, Washington, DC, Anne Novak, U.S. Commercial 
Service, Washington, DC, Tel: (202) 482-8178, Email: 
[email protected].

Elnora Moye,
Trade Program Assistant.
[FR Doc. 2013-05379 Filed 3-7-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-FP-P