[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 173 (Tuesday, September 8, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53773-53775]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-22072]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration


Aerospace Executive Service Trade Mission at Singapore Airshow; 
February 15-19, 2016

AGENCY: International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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Mission Description

    The United States Department of Commerce, International Trade 
Administration is organizing an Aerospace Executive Service Trade 
Mission (AESTM) to Singapore in conjunction with the Singapore Airshow 
2016 (http://www.singaporeairshow.com).
    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.

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 six participants new to the AESTM at 
the Singapore Airshow.

Mission Scenario

    Within the U.S. Pavilion at the 2016 Singapore Airshow, the 
Commercial Service will maintain a 66-square-meter booth that will 
include 48 square 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 (18 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 15;
     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;

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     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 2016 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.

Proposed Timetable

Sunday, February 14, 2016

Arrival of AESTM participants

Monday, February 15, 2016

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 16, 2016

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

Wednesday, February 17, 2016

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

Thursday, February 18-Friday, February 19, 2016

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)

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 12 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 six 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 12, 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 $9,400 for large firms 
and $8,700 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.singaporeairshow.com/exhibit-profile.html.

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 six 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 six 
opportunities to participate. Previous experience will not be 
considered when selecting applicants for the remaining six 
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.

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, 2015. The mission will open on a first-come, 
first-served basis, as outlined above in the

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Participation Requirements section. Applications received after 
November 30, 2015, will be considered only if space and scheduling 
constraints permit.

Contacts

    Aerospace and Defense Technology Team: Jason Sproule, U.S. Export 
Assistance Center, 444 Flower Street, 37th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 
90071, Tel: (213) 894-8785, Email: [email protected].
    US and Foreign Commercial Service in Singapore: Hawcheng Ng, 
American Embassy, 27 Napier Road, Singapore 258508, Tel. 011-(65) 6476-
9037, Fax 011-(65) 6476-9080, Email: [email protected].


Frank Spector,
Director (A), Trade Mission Office.
[FR Doc. 2015-22072 Filed 9-4-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-DR-P