[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 58 (Tuesday, March 26, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18318-18321]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-06797]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration


U.S. Healthcare Trade Mission to Turkey

AGENCY: International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The United States Department of Commerce, International Trade 
Administration.

Mission Description

    The United States Department of Commerce, International Trade 
Administration, U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service (CS) is organizing 
an Executive-Led U.S.--Turkey Healthcare Trade Mission to Ankara, 
Istanbul, and Izmir on May 4-8, 2014.
    The trade mission to this Department-priority market follows 
successful Renewable Energy/Energy Efficiency and Aerospace/Defense 
trade missions in December 2011 and December 2012 respectively.
    Turkey has a compelling economic success story to tell and its 
healthcare sector has followed suit. 2011 was a record year for U.S. 
exports to Turkey and 2012 is expected to be a close second. Moreover, 
the Government of Turkey has set an ambitious goal of becoming a top 
ten economy by 2023; Turkey is currently at number 17. The U.S.--Turkey 
Healthcare Trade Mission is intended support growing healthcare 
services and technologies demand in Turkey. The Mission will focus on 
high-potential healthcare sub-sectors and opportunities identified 
through our market research. We expect the trade mission delegation to 
include representatives from a variety of U.S. medical equipment and 
device manufacturers and healthcare services providers. The mission 
will introduce these suppliers to end-users and prospective partners 
whose needs and capabilities are targeted to each U.S. participant's 
strengths. Trade mission participants will have the opportunity to 
interact extensively with Commercial Service (CS) Turkey officers and 
specialists and key players in the industry to discuss industry 
developments, opportunities, and sales strategies.

Commercial Setting

    Turkey is at the crossroads of Europe, the Middle East, and North 
Africa. With a population close to 80 million people, it has a 
significantly higher population growth rate compared than the U.K., 
France, Italy, and Germany. Median age is 29 years with 67% of the 
population between the ages of 15 to 64. Average life expectancy is 75 
years. It has a fast-growing middle class that is willing to spend more 
on quality goods and services, and a democratically elected government 
which has historically invested in raising living standards. Turkey's 
GDP tripled in the last decade and is widely considered as one of the 
fastest growing economies in the world today.
    Turkey has a public healthcare system with a $20 billion federal 
budget for 2013--an increase of 19% over 2012. Healthcare budget 
allocation in the national budget jumped from 2.25% in 2002 to 4.4% in 
2012 while per capita healthcare spending grew from $330 to $780 in the 
same period. With the OECD per capita spending average at $2,386 in 
2012, there is significant growth potential in this market thanks to 
Turkey's growing income and government programs. The Turkish government 
has made healthcare access and quality a priority. To improve 
healthcare access for its citizens, Turkey, in the last decade, 
invested $4.7 billion in healthcare construction. This resulted in a 
172% increase in the number of hospital visits since 2002. Now the 
focus has evolved to quality care as state hospitals compete with 
privately run institutions. The government has unveiled a PPP (Public 
Private Partnership) initiative where 29 integrated health campuses 
will be built. A total of 45,000 beds will be integrated into the 
Turkish healthcare system through this model. Sixty percent of these 
projects have either been tendered or contracted, however equipment/
services packages will only be finalized in 2014-2015.

Specific Opportunities for Trade Mission Delegates

    Today, the medical equipment and supplies market is a $2.2 billion 
industry, placing Turkey in the worldwide marketplace for healthcare 
goods. By 2015, the medical equipment and supplies market in Turkey is 
projected to reach $3 billion as the above-mentioned integrated health 
campuses are built. These projects lend opportunities to healthcare 
architectural and engineering firms, medical device and supplies 
manufacturers as well as hospital operators.
    The Ministry of Health is the largest purchaser in the healthcare 
market in Turkey. The Table below shows the distribution of healthcare 
facilities by type of ownership:

[[Page 18319]]



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                                                       2002                                            2011                           Growth percent
                                 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Type                                         Number of                                       Number of                           Number of
                                   Number of    Percent    hospital     Percent    Number of    Percent    hospital     Percent    Number of   hospital
                                   hospitals                 beds                  hospitals                 beds                  hospitals     beds
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ministry of Health..............         774          67     107,394          65         840          58     121,297          62         8.5          12
University......................          50           4      26,341          16          65           4      34,802          18          30          32
Private.........................         271          23      12,387           8         503          35      31,648          16          85         155
Other...........................          61           6      18,349          12          45           3       6,757           4         -26         -63
ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½
        Total...................       1,156  ..........     164,471  ..........       1,453  ..........     194,504  ..........          26          19
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    The growth in the number of healthcare facilities, the patients 
accessing healthcare services, and the renewed focus on quality care 
has resulted in higher demand for advanced medical devices like MRI, 
CT, ECHO, Ultrasound and Doppler Ultrasonography. U.S. firms are 
particularly competitive in these sectors, thus our trade mission 
focus. Growth in the number of devices in Turkey's in-patient 
healthcare facilities from 2002 to 2011 is impressive:

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                                                                 Growth
            Type of  device                 2002       2011    (percent)
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MRI....................................         58        781      1,247
CT.....................................        323      1,088        237
ECHO...................................        259      1,181        356
Ultrasound.............................      1,005      3,775        276
Doppler Ultrasonography................        681      2,091        207
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    Medical services for foreign patients, also sustains growth in the 
Turkish medical equipment and healthcare markets. It is estimated that 
Turkish private and public establishments will serve one million 
foreign patients by 2015. Turkey attracts a lot of patients from the 
Middle East, North Africa and Europe. These patients mainly visit 
Turkish hospitals for bone marrow transplantation, cardiovascular 
surgery, cyber knife and gamma knife treatments, ophthalmology, plastic 
surgery, dental services and oncology. Again, U.S. exporters are highly 
competitive in these sectors.
    As a result of this externally and internally driven transformation 
in the Turkish health sector, we believe there are opportunities for 
U.S. manufacturers for the following medical devices -
     Advanced pre-screening and diagnostics devices,
     Advanced point-of-care devices,
     Advanced surgical devices,
     Remote patient monitoring devices,
     Cancer treatment devices,
     Clinical chemistry and laboratory devices,
     Dental devices,
     Implants used in orthopedics and traumatology
     Ultrasound and Imaging equipment
     E-health and Mhealth systems and
     Telemedicine systems

Mission Goals

    Our mission goal is to leverage our detailed understanding of the 
Turkish healthcare market and match its demand with select U.S. 
suppliers to generate sales on an immediate or short-term basis. For 
the medium and longer term, the goal is to educate participants on the 
healthcare-related commercial, political and regulatory environment in 
Turkey in order to arm them with the ability to sustain and expand 
their business in Turkey and around the region.

Mission Scenario

    The trade mission will go to Ankara, Istanbul, and Izmir May 4-8, 
2014. Recognizing Turkey's regional importance, CS Bulgaria and State 
Partner Posts, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan will 
join the mission on the last day to meet with U.S. participants looking 
for regional opportunities.
    Trade mission members will meet with officials from the Ministry of 
Health and Social Security Agency, and will take part in business 
matchmaking appointments with private-sector entities. In addition, 
they will attend an Embassy briefing and networking events with 
industry and business associations, and participate in two site visits.
    Participation in the mission will include the following:
     Pre-travel briefings/webinar on subjects ranging from 
business practices in Turkey to industry opportunities;
     Pre-screened, targeted 1-1 meetings with potential 
partners, distributors, or local industry contacts in Ankara, Izmir and 
Istanbul;
     Briefing by the U.S. Embassy Country Team;
     Transportation to/from Ambassador residence and all 
official networking events.
     Participation in industry networking receptions;
     Optional add-on for meetings with potential customers from 
Bulgaria, Caucasus and Central Asia.

                           Proposed Timetable
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------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sunday, May 4................   Trade Mission Participants
                                Arrive in Ankara.
                                Sponsored reception.
Monday, May 5................   Welcome Briefing by U.S.
                                Ambassador and U.S. Embassy Country
                                Team.

[[Page 18320]]

 
                                Presentation by the Ministry of
                                Health on Turkish healthcare system and
                                Social Security Agency on healthcare
                                reimbursement system;
                                Delegation splits into groups.
                                Customized briefing by Ministry of
                                Health officials for each group's
                                specific line of business;
                                Hosted Lunch for mission
                                participants.
                                One-on-one business matchmaking
                                appointments.
                                Ambassador's Reception.
Tuesday, May 6...............   Morning flight to Izmir.
                                No-host lunch.
                                One-on-one business matchmaking
                                appointments.
                                Sponsored dinner--Bay Cruise.
Wednesday, May 7.............   Morning flight to Istanbul.
                                Site visit of a Turkish private
                                hospital (includes sponsored lunch at
                                hospital).
                                Site visit at a Turkish public
                                hospital.
                                No-host dinner.
Thursday, May 8..............   Full-day one-on-one business
                                matchmaking appointments.
                                Evening networking event dinner.
Friday, May 9 (Optional).....   One-on-one business matchmaking
                                appointments with delegations from
                                Partner Posts (as needed).
                                Trade Mission ends.
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Participation Requirements

    All parties interested in participating in the Executive-Led U.S.--
Turkey Healthcare 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 best satisfy 
the selection criteria as outlined below. The mission is open on a 
first come first served basis up to 18-22 qualified U.S. companies. 
Post can host a maximum of 22 individual firms, as such, we will vet 
applicants on the basis of their consistency with the selection 
criteria listed below.

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 for one principal representative 
will be $ 4,665 for large firms and $3,553 for a small or medium-sized 
enterprise (SME).\*\ The fee for each additional firm representative 
(large firm or SME) is $ 750. Expenses for lodging, some meals, 
incidentals, and travel to/from Turkey and flights in Turkey 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 schedule reflects the Commercial Service's user fee 
schedule that became effective May 1, 2008 (for additional 
information see http://www.export.gov/newsletter/march2008/initiatives.html).
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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.
     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 Turkey, 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.
    Any partisan political activities (including political 
contributions) of an applicant are entirely irrelevant to the selection 
process. Referrals from political organizations and any information, 
including on the application, containing references to political 
contributions or other partisan political activities will be excluded 
from the application and will not be 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 (https://www.federalregister.gov/), posting on ITA's business development 
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 will begin immediately and conclude no later than 
Monday, December 16, 2013. The Department of Commerce will evaluate 
applications and inform applicants of selection in three group 
vettings, Group A, Group B, and Group C respectively.
    We will vet all of the applications that are eligible at the time 
of each vetting as a group on the three dates listed below:

Group A--August 15, 2013
Group B--October 14, 2013
Group C--December 16, 2013

    Applications received after the December 16 deadline will be 
considered only if space and scheduling constraints permit.

How To Apply

    Applications can be downloaded from the business development 
mission Web site (http://export.gov/trademissions/turkeyhealthcare2014) 
or can be obtained by contacting the list of contacts (below). 
Completed applications should be submitted to Global Trade Programs at 
(email: [email protected] or fax: 202-482-9000).

Contacts

U.S. Commercial Service, Trade Events Program

Ms. Jessica Arnold, International Trade Specialist, Tel: 202-482-2026, 
Email: [email protected].

U.S. Commercial Service Turkey

Mr. Manoj Desai, Commercial Officer, Email: [email protected].

[[Page 18321]]

Ms. Ebru Olcay, Commercial Specialist, Email: [email protected].

U.S. Commercial Service Turkey

55 New Sudbury Street, Suite 1826A, Boston, MA 02203, Tel: 617 565-
4301, Fax: 617 565-4313, Email: [email protected].

American Consulate General

Ucsehitler Sok. Kaplicalar Mevkii No: 2, 34460 Istinye, Istanbul, 
Turkey, Tel: (90) 212 335-9000, Fax: (90) 212 335-9223.

U.S. Commercial Service Medical Technologies Team

Michelle Ouellette, Senior International Trade Specialist, U.S. 
Department of Commerce, U.S. Export Assistance Center--Massachusetts.

Elnora Moye,
Trade Program Assistant.
[FR Doc. 2013-06797 Filed 3-25-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-FP-P