[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 189 (Tuesday, September 30, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58746-58749]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-23210]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
Cyber Security Business Development Mission to Poland and
Romania; May 11-15, 2015
AGENCY: International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.
ACTION: Notice.
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Mission Description
The United States Department of Commerce, International Trade
Administration (ITA), is organizing an Executive-led Cyber Security
Business Development Mission to Poland and Romania from May 11-15,
2015.
The purpose of the mission is to introduce U.S. firms and trade
associations to Eastern and Central Europe's information and
communication technology (ICT) security and critical infrastructure
protection markets and to assist U.S. companies to find business
partners and export their products and services to the region. The
mission is intended to
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include representatives from U.S. companies and U.S. trade associations
with members that provide cyber security, critical infrastructure
protection, and emergency management technology equipment and services.
The mission will visit Poland and Romania, where U.S. firms will have
access to business development opportunities across the Eastern and
Central European region. Participating firms will gain market insights,
make industry contacts, solidify business strategies, and advance
specific projects, with the goal of increasing U.S. exports of products
and services to Eastern and Central Europe. The mission will include
customized one-on-one business appointments with pre-screened potential
buyers, agents, distributors and joint venture partners; meetings with
state and local government officials and industry leaders; and
networking events.
The mission also will include a significant regional component to
expand the reach of the companies to at least 10 other potential
markets (Bulgaria, Moldova, Hungary, Serbia, Croatia, Macedonia,
Bosnia, Montenegro, and Slovenia) in Central and Eastern Europe.
Foreign Commercial Service (FCS) offices in Europe work together to
meet the needs of U.S. companies and will recruit government officials,
potential buyers and suppliers from surrounding countries to come to
Bucharest and possibly Poland, to meet with companies to discuss
opportunities in their markets. There will be a dedicated day where
companies will receive presentations on opportunities in these markets
in the region by either FCS staff or country experts and then meet with
companies one-on-one. The mission will also organize optional virtual
introductions with companies or government officials not able to come
to one of the two trade mission stops. This innovative approach will
provide companies more value by bringing opportunities to the companies
without having to travel to each market.
Commercial Setting
Cyber security ensures realization and controlling of vital
security properties of an organization's, as well as users'
intellectual, financial, and infrastructure assets against relevant
security risks in the cyber environment. In addition, critical physical
infrastructure systems (i.e., safety, security, electrical, water,
energy, and traffic management systems) essentially interact with, and
cannot be separated from, the critical information infrastructure. With
the ascending growth and sophistication of cyber-attacks in recent
years, strict compliance and unified security packages are in demand to
protect the critical data, infrastructure, and safety of governments,
military, public utilities, banking, financial services, ports,
hospitals, and other businesses. The damaging effects of cyber-threats
can be felt on many levels from the business to the individual and can
spill over across borders. Therefore, nations in Eastern and Central
Europe are currently dedicating increasing resources at the executive
policy level, as well as at the private sector level, in order to deal
with these complex cyber threats. These resources have been well
utilized as is evident from the innovations and demand for cyber
defense equipment and service technologies.
Recent events in the region have also heightened the importance of
improving cyber security protection. Governments have made cyber
security a policy priority, creating task forces and engaging with the
United States government (USG) to improve their defenses. The trade
mission will not only focus on the countries visited, but will also use
ITA's Commercial Service network to include opportunities for
matchmaking with companies and governments from across the region in
the program.
Poland
In June 2013, the Polish government adopted a Cyberspace Protection
Policy for the country. The Ministry of Administration and Digitization
is responsible for Polish ICT policy, including the implementation of
an information society agenda, and is also in charge of all public ICT
projects. The prevailing trends for digitalization and mobility further
expose ICT users to a range of security threats. As a result, there are
good opportunities for suppliers of all ICT security related solutions
designed for customers ranging from private users, small businesses,
through large sophisticated corporate networks and top level critical
public infrastructure projects.
The demand for IT security products and services has been growing
dynamically and continuously over the last few years. In addition,
highly publicized news reports of attacks have led to a rapidly growing
awareness of cyber security threats. In 2013, IT security products and
services grew twice as fast as the market for IT products and services
in general. At the end of 2013, the Polish market for IT cyber security
products reached USD 156 million. Security software represented 59% of
the market, while 41% fell on IT security appliances. The market for IT
security products is expected to grow at over 10% a year over the next
five-years.
There are good prospects for all kinds of security software and
security appliances. Security audits and outsourcing of managed
security services represent the highest potential for IT security
services. There are business opportunities in all market segments, but
most investments in this area are done in the telecommunications,
financial and banking, as well as the public sectors. This applies
mostly to large projects sponsored by large companies or organizations.
Romania
The Romanian market consists of three key segments: Small to
medium-sized enterprises (SME), corporations, and the Romanian
government, including civil, security, military, and critical national
infrastructure (e.g., utilities and telecoms). Romania, with an
increasingly high interdependence of cyber infrastructure and sectors
such as banking, transportation, energy and national defense, is facing
cyber threats to critical infrastructure. The threats to these parties
can be combated using hardware, software, services, or a combination of
the three. Software solutions are a major portion of the market, with
anti-virus and other security software programs being deployed in
businesses of all types and sizes. The security services sector is
expected to outpace that of the software market. Within the security
hardware sector, companies are demanding more Unified Threat Management
(UTM) appliances as they adopt increasingly integrated security
solutions on a tighter budget. As companies face more and more security
breaches, they are taking more proactive measures to ensure information
technology (IT) security and their assets. While opportunities exist to
supply organizations of all sizes, from SMEs to large corporations, the
most substantial opportunities are to be found in organizations for
which IT security is mission critical, e.g., major financial
institutions, utilities and especially government departments
(including Government headquarters, Ministry of Defense, Immigration
and Border Protection, Revenue and Customs, etc.). Major Cyber security
projects in development in Romania include the creation of a Cyber
security Innovation Center, with assistance from the U.S. Trade and
Development Agency, and a Regional Cybercrime Training Center for the
Romanian Police.
Romania's demand for cybersecurity technology is included in its
recently legislated Cybersecurity Strategy and
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the National Action Plan on implementation of National Cybersecurity
System. By the end of 2014, Romania plans to adopt a cybersecurity law,
currently under public consultation. The draft law covers both Network
and Information Security (NIS) and cyber threats from a national
security perspective and was approved by the Supreme Council for
National Defense at the end of 2013. The Romanian National Computer
Emergency Response Team (CERT-RO), which aligns directly with European
Union (EU) critical infrastructure protection mandates, was established
in 2011. CERT-RO is the incident response body responsible for
``preventing, analyzing, identifying and reacting to cybernetics
incidents'' and for developing public policies to prevent and
counteract cyber-attacks.
The National Cybersecurity System will represent a cooperation
platform for CERT schemes and will act to consolidate the expertise for
cyber security risk management, stimulating cooperation at different
layers (military-civil, public-private, government-nongovernment). The
Romanian legal/institutional framework could later be affected by the
developments of the Regulatory Framework at the European level.
The prospect for highly specialized cybersecurity engineering
services and products presents multiple opportunities for U.S. exports.
The cybersecurity systems already in place in Romania are based on U.S.
technologies and the cyber security training to date originate from the
United States. There is still a great need to build capabilities to
detect and manage cyber security incidents, the cyber security risk
management process, including consulting and technical support at the
strategic management level. Once cyber security audits became
mandatory, there will also be a need for training, tools, technology,
consulting services, etc.
Other Products and Services
The foregoing analysis of the cyber security opportunities in
Poland and Romania is not intended to be exhaustive, but illustrative
of the many opportunities available to U.S. businesses. Applications
from companies selling products or services within the scope of this
mission, but not specifically identified, will be considered and
evaluated by the U.S. Department of Commerce. Companies whose products
or services do not fit the scope of the mission may contact their local
U.S. Export Assistance Center (USEAC) to learn about other business
development missions and services that may provide more targeted export
opportunities. Companies may call 1-800-872-8723, or go to http://help.export.gov/ to obtain such information. This information also may
be found on the Web site: http://www.export.gov.
Mission Goals
The purpose of this trade mission is to introduce U.S. firms to the
rapidly expanding market for cyber security products and services in
Eastern and Central Europe. The mission will help participating firms
and trade associations to gain market insights, make industry contacts,
solidify business strategies, and advance specific projects, with the
goal of increasing U.S. exports to Poland, Romania and the Eastern and
Central Europe region. By participating in an official U.S. industry
delegation, rather than traveling to Poland, Romania, and the rest of
the Eastern and Central Europe region on their own, U.S. companies will
enhance their ability to secure meetings in those countries and gain
greater exposure to the region.
Mission Scenario
The business development 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 Eastern and Central European
markets. Meetings will be offered with government authorities that can
address questions about policies, tariff rates, incentives,
regulations, projects, etc.
Proposed Timetable
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Sunday May 10..................... Trade Mission Participants
Arrive in Bucharest.
Visit the city.
Mission Welcome, Week in
Preview at Hotel.
Monday May 11..................... Welcome and Country
Briefing (Romania).
PM and President's Office
Meetings (Cyber Security
Operational Committee).
Networking Lunch.
One-on-One business
matchmaking appointments.
Networking Reception at
Ambassador's residence (TBC).
Tuesday May 12.................... One-on-One business
matchmaking appointments.
Networking Lunch.
Southeast Europe Regional
Day--Country Presentations.
Wednesday May 13.................. Southeast Europe one on one
matchmaking (Bulgaria, Moldova,
Hungary, Serbia, Croatia,
Macedonia, Bosnia, Montenegro,
Slovenia).
Networking Lunch.
Virtual Introductions/
Executive time.
Travel to Poland.
Thursday May 14................... Welcome and Country
Briefing (Poland).
Ministry of Administration
and Digitalization Briefing and
other GOP meetings.
Networking Lunch.
One-on-One business
matchmaking appointments.
Reception at Ambassador's
residence (TBC).
Friday May 15..................... One-on-One business
matchmaking appointments.
Networking Lunch/Central
Europe Regional Opportunities.
Central Europe--One-on-One
business matchmaking appointments.
Saturday May 16................... Trade Mission Participants
Depart.
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Participation Requirements
All parties interested in participating in the trade mission must
complete and submit an application package for consideration by the
DOC. All applicants will be evaluated, on a rolling basis, on their
ability to meet certain conditions and best satisfy the selection
criteria as outlined below. A minimum of 15 and maximum of 20 firms
and/or trade associations will be selected to participate in the
mission from the applicant pool.
Fees and Expenses
After a firm or trade association 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 the Business
Development Mission will be $2500.00 for small or medium-sized
enterprises (SME) \1\; and $3650.00 for large firms or trade
associations. The fee for each additional firm representative (large
firm or SME/trade organization) is $750. Expenses for travel, lodging,
meals, and incidentals will be the responsibility of each mission
participant. Interpreter and driver services can be arranged for
additional cost. Delegation members will be able to take advantage of
U.S. Embassy rates for hotel rooms.
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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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Exclusions
The mission fee does not include any personal travel expenses such
as lodging, most meals, local ground transportation, and air
transportation from the U.S. to the mission sites, between mission
sites, and return to the United States. Business visas may be required.
Government fees and processing expenses to obtain such visas are also
not included in the mission costs. However, the U.S. Department of
Commerce will provide instructions to each participant on the
procedures required to obtain necessary business visas.
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 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.
Companies must provide certification of products and/or services
being manufactured or produced in the United States or if manufactured/
produced outside of the United States, the product and/or service is
marketed under the name of a U.S. firm and have U.S. content
representing at least 51 percent of the value of the finished good or
service. 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.
The following criteria will be evaluated in selecting participants:
Suitability of the company's (or in the case of a trade
association/organization, represented companies') products or services
to the mission goals and the markets to be visited as part of this
trade mission.
Company's (or in the case of a trade association/
organization, represented companies') potential for business in each of
the markets to be visited as part of this trade mission.
Consistency of the applicant's (or in the case of a trade
association/organization, represented companies') goals and objectives
with the stated scope of the mission.
Diversity of company size and location 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.
Timeline 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) and
other Internet Web sites, press releases to general and trade media,
direct mail, 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 1, 2015. The U.S.
Department of Commerce will review applications and make selection
decisions on a rolling basis beginning October 15, 2014 until the
maximum of 20 participants is selected. Applications received after
March 1, 2015, will be considered only if space and scheduling
constraints permit.
Contacts
Gemal Brangman, Project Officer, U.S. Department of Commerce,
Washington, DC, Tel: 202-482-3773, Fax: 202-482-9000,
[email protected].
Pompeya Lambrecht, Senior International Trade Specialist, U.S.
Department of Commerce, Arlington, VA, Tel: 703.756.1707,
[email protected].
Brenda VanHorn, Commercial Officer, U.S. Department of Commerce,
Warsaw, Poland, Tel: (48) 22625 4374, [email protected].
Elnora Moye,
Trade Program Assistant.
[FR Doc. 2014-23210 Filed 9-29-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-P