[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 124 (Thursday, June 27, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38690-38692]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-15340]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration


Aerospace Executive Service Trade Mission at the Singapore 
Airshow 2014

AGENCY: International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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I. Mission Description

    The United States Department of Commerce, International Trade 
Administration, U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service is organizing an 
Aerospace Executive Service Trade Mission (AESTM) to Singapore in 
conjunction with the Singapore Airshow 2014 (http://www.singaporeairshow.com.sg).
    The AESTM will include representatives from a variety of U.S. 
aerospace-industry manufacturers and service providers. The mission 
participants will be introduced to international agents, distributors 
and end-users whose capabilities are targeted to each participant's 
needs. This year a key mission goal is to recruit U.S. firms that have 
not previously participated in this AESTM to the Singapore Airshow.
    Mission participants will also be briefed by key local industry 
leaders who can advise on local market conditions and opportunities.
    In addition, the Commercial Service will offer its AsiaNow Showtime 
program during the Singapore Airshow, where mission participants can 
meet one-on-one with Commercial Service aerospace and defense industry 
specialists from various markets in Asia. The industry specialists will 
be on-hand to discuss market trends and opportunities in their 
respective markets.

II. Commercial Setting

    The Singapore Airshow is Asia's largest aerospace and defense event 
and is one of the top three air shows in the world, serving as an 
international marketplace and networking platform for the global 
aerospace community. Encompassing all civil and military sectors of the 
international aerospace industry, the Singapore Airshow is the most 
prominent platform in the Asia-Pacific region for companies to showcase 
aerospace products and services.
    The Asia-Pacific region is widely considered the most promising 
market for the aerospace industry worldwide. As a leading global 
aviation hub in Asia Pacific, Singapore (the United States' 13th 
largest export market in 2012) can serve as an excellent base for 
taking advantage of growth opportunities stemming from the region's 
brisk international trade, tourism and investment climate. U.S. 
aerospace firms looking to establish or expand business in Singapore 
and other markets in this dynamic region stand to benefit from 
participating in the Singapore Airshow through the AESTM.
    In addition to hosting the Airshow, Singapore is the regional 
leader in aerospace maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), 
manufacturing, and research and development. Since 1992, Singapore's 
aerospace industry has grown at an average annual rate of 10% to become 
the most comprehensive MRO hub in Asia.
    Aerospace is one of the fastest-growing industries in Singapore, 
and the long-term business outlook remains positive. According to 
business consulting firm Frost & Sullivan, the Asia-Pacific aviation 
industry is experiencing a faster recovery from its undesirable 
passenger load factor than anticipated. In fact, Asia-Pacific economies 
are leading the pace of recovery in the global aviation sector: The 
Asia-Pacific region is expected to account for approximately 40% (U.S. 
$270 billion) of the global airline revenue by 2020. The air freight 
and cargo business has also experienced consistent growth in the Asia-
Pacific region. Also, the rising GDP per capita across Asia-Pacific and 
the increasing level of disposable income of the population will lead 
to an increase in air travel and therefore higher demand on cabin 
interiors. Singapore is particularly well-equipped to capture the 
demand from aviation-related services from this market given its MRO 
hub status, which will translate into greater opportunities for 
American suppliers to sell to this lucrative market and beyond.

III. Mission Goals

    The mission's goal for the Aerospace Executive Service (AES) at the 
Singapore Airshow is to facilitate an effective presence for small to 
medium-sized U.S. companies without the major expenses associated with 
purchasing and staffing exhibition space. The AES will enable U.S. 
aerospace companies to familiarize themselves with this important air 
show, conduct market research, and explore export opportunities through 
pre-screened meetings with potential partners. It will give the U.S. 
companies a small presence at the show, with an office infrastructure 
environment and the support of knowledgeable U.S. Commercial Service 
staff focused on furthering company-specific objectives. This mission 
also seeks to recruit a minimum of eight participants new to the AESTM 
at the Singapore Airshow.

IV. Mission Scenario

    Within the U.S. Pavilion at the 2014 Singapore Airshow, the 
Commercial Service will maintain a 82.75-square-meter booth that will 
include 60 square

[[Page 38691]]

meters of kiosk space for the mission participants, where each 
participant may display company literature and conduct meetings with 
visitors to the air show, including buyer delegations from the Asia-
Pacific region recruited by Commercial Service staff as part of the 
AsiaNow program. The Commercial Service booth will also house an area 
for meetings with Commercial Service staff and a Business Information 
Office (BIO) reception area (22.75 square meters). Commercial Service 
staff will be available to provide market information and offer 
logistical assistance to AESTM participants throughout the trade 
mission duration at the Singapore Airshow.
    In summary, participation in the AESTM includes:
     Pre-show breakfast briefing on February 10;
     Daily transportation to and from the designated hotel and 
Singapore Airshow;
     Pre-scheduled meetings with potential partners, 
distributors, and end users recruited by the Commercial Service;
     One show entry pass per company representative;
     Participation in U.S. Exhibitors Welcome Reception;
     One invitation to the U.S. Ambassador's reception per 
participant;
     Access to Official U.S. Pavilion/BIO amenities, including 
meeting area and shared business center when not in use for AsiaNow 
one-on-one appointments;
     Individual kiosk space (4.0 m\2\) within the U.S. Pavilion 
for displaying company marketing materials and conducting meetings;
     Copy of the official 2014 Singapore Airshow Exhibitor's 
Directory;
     Meetings with Commercial Service aerospace and defense 
industry specialists from U.S. Embassies and Consulates across the 
Asia-Pacific region;
     On site logistical support by U.S. Commercial Service 
staff.

V. Proposed Timetable

Monday, February 10, 2014

Briefing at the designated hotel on country/regional market and AESTM 
event logistics
One-on-one business matchmaking appointments
Evening welcome reception for U.S. exhibitors

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Attend U.S. Pavilion opening with VIP delegates at Singapore Airshow
Participate in Singapore Airshow

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Participate in Singapore Airshow
Evening U.S. Ambassador's Reception

Thursday, February 13-Friday, February 14, 2014

AsiaNow Showtime meetings, participants walk show floor, and conduct 
any follow-up meetings
Friday afternoon AES Trade Mission participants' debrief with USCS 
staff
Friday evening no host dinner (optional)

VI. Participation Requirements

    All parties interested in participating in the AESTM at the 
Singapore Airshow must complete and submit an application package 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. A maximum of 15 companies 
will be selected to participate in the mission from the applicant pool. 
As a condition of the Singapore Airshow organizer on Commercial Service 
use of booth space at this event, half of the mission participation (at 
least eight participants) is reserved for companies that have not 
previously participated in the AESTM at the Singapore Airshow. These 
will be selected on a first-come, first-served basis. The remaining 
participants, up to the maximum of 15, may include companies that have 
previously participated in the AESTM, also to be selected on a first-
come, first-served basis. U.S. companies already doing business in 
Singapore or elsewhere in the Asia-Pacific region as well as U.S. 
companies seeking to enter those markets for the first time may apply.

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 will be $8,900 for large firms 
and $8,400 for a small or medium-sized enterprise (SME).* The fee for 
each additional firm representative (large firm or SME) is $300. The 
participation fee is inclusive of registration for exhibiting at the 
Singapore Airshow. Expenses for travel to and from Singapore, lodging, 
meals, and incidentals 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/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, primary market 
objectives, and goals for participation. The applicant must also state 
whether the company has previously participated in the AESTM at the 
Singapore Airshow. 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 51 percent U.S. content of the value of the finished 
product or service.
     Each applicant's products must meet the Singapore Airshow 
trade fair rules, which can be found at http://www.singaporeair 
show.com.sg/.

Selection Criteria for Participation

    Selection will be based on the following criteria:
     Suitability of the company's products or services to the 
Asia Pacific markets.
     Applicant's potential for business in Asia Pacific, 
including likelihood of exports resulting from the mission.
     Consistency of the applicant's goals and objectives with 
the stated scope of the mission.
    As explained above, as a condition of the Singapore Airshow 
organizer on Commercial Service use of booth space at this event, half 
of the mission participation (at least eight participants) is reserved 
for companies that have not previously participated in the AESTM at the 
Singapore Airshow. Previous participation in the AESTM at the Singapore 
Airshow will be considered in making selection decisions for these 
eight opportunities to participate. Previous experience will not be 
considered when selecting applicants for the remaining seven 
opportunities.
    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.

[[Page 38692]]

VII. Timeframe for Recruitment and Applications

    Mission recruitment will be conducted in an open and public manner, 
including publication in the Federal Register and posting on the 
Commerce Department trade missions calendar--http://export.gov/trademissions/-- and other Internet Web sites, publication in domestic 
trade publications and association newsletters, mailings from internal 
mailing lists, faxes to internal aerospace clients, emails to aerospace 
distribution lists, and promotion at industry meetings, symposia, 
conferences, trade shows, and other events. The ITA Aerospace and 
Defense Technology Team members in U.S. Export Assistance Centers will 
have the lead in recruiting the AESTM.
    Recruitment for the mission will begin immediately and conclude no 
later than November 30, 2013. The mission will open on a first-come, 
first-served basis, as outlined above in the Participation Requirements 
section. Applications received after November 30, 2013, will be 
considered only if space and scheduling constraints permit.

                                Contacts
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                                           U.S. and foreign commercial
 Aerospace and defense technology team:       service in Singapore:
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Jason Sproule, Irvine U.S. Export        Hawcheng Ng, American Embassy,
 Assistance Center, 2302 Marin Court,     27 Napier Road, Singapore
 Suite 315, Irvine, CA 92612, Tel:        258508, Tel. 011-(65) 6476-
 (949) 660-1688/Fax: (949) 660-1338,      9037, Fax 011-(65) 6476-9080,
 Email: [email protected].          Email: [email protected].
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Elnora Moye,
Trade Program Assistant.
[FR Doc. 2013-15340 Filed 6-26-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-FP-P