[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 200 (Friday, October 16, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62514-62516]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-26008]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration


Healthcare Technology & Hospital Information Services Trade 
Mission to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait

April 23-28, 2016.
AGENCY: International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The United States Department of Commerce, International Trade 
Administration (ITA), with support from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce 
and organizers of the Saudi-American Healthcare Forum (SAHF) is 
organizing a Healthcare Technology & Hospital Information Services 
Trade Mission to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait from April 23-
28, 2016. The purpose of the mission is to introduce U.S. firms to the 
rapidly expanding healthcare sectors in these two countries and to 
assist U.S. companies in pursuing opportunities in this sector.
    The mission is designed for U.S. companies and international 
hospital groups providing hospital operation and management services, 
hospital information systems, and eHealth solutions. The mission also 
will assist U.S. companies already doing business in Saudi Arabia and 
Kuwait to expand their footprint. Target sectors holding high potential 
for U.S companies include:
     Hospital operation and management,
     healthcare training and staffing services,
     healthcare education, and
     health information systems and informatics (e.g., 
electronic health records).
    The mission is timed to take place during the Saudi-American 
Healthcare Forum (SAHF) on April 25-27, 2016. The SAHF is an exclusive 
event dedicated to building new relationships, fostering existing 
partnerships, and exchanging best practices between the United States 
and the Middle East. The 2015 forum attracted over 1,000 attendees 
intent on promoting healthcare diplomacy through bilateral and 
international research, technology development, and education and 
training. Approximately 50 U.S. companies and organizations attended 
the event. Additional information about the SAHF can be found here: 
http://sahf15.com/.
    Supported by American industry participants and the U.S. Embassy, 
the

[[Page 62515]]

2016 SAHF will showcase the ongoing health-related cooperation between 
the U.S. Government and Saudi healthcare counterparts. The U.S. trade 
mission participants will be highlighted at the SAHF through speaking 
roles designed to elevate their companies' visibility as thought 
leaders in the field of healthcare innovation. Trade mission 
participants also will have free access to all seminars offered at the 
SAHF, if they wish to participate. Additionally, through customized 
meetings organized by the U.S. Commercial Service, trade mission 
participants will gain access to top level Saudi health decision makers 
to gain exposure they would not otherwise be able to achieve on their 
own.
    The mission will help participating U.S. firms and associations/
organizations gain market insights, make industry and government 
contacts, solidify business strategies and advance specific projects 
with the goal of increasing U.S. healthcare services exports. The trade 
mission will start in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where participants will 
receive market briefings from U.S. Commercial Service and industry 
experts, hold one-on-one business meetings, meet with Saudi government 
officials and organizations, and participate in networking events. 
Delegates will be invited to participate in the SAHF. Following the 
SAHF, trade mission participants will travel to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia 
and then to Kuwait, where they will have additional opportunities to 
meet with key contacts and decision makers. Participating firms may 
also wish to remain in Riyadh, or if the firm decides to send two 
participants on the mission, one representative can remain in Riyadh, 
rather than continue to Jeddah, to participate in SAHF seminars. 
Participating in an official U.S. industry delegation, rather than 
traveling on their own, will enhance the companies' abilities to 
identify opportunities in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.

                                Schedule
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Saturday--April 23, Riyadh, Saudi         Arrive Riyadh and
 Arabia.                                  hotel check-in
                                          Welcome reception/ice
                                          breaker
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Sunday--April 24, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.   Welcome and overview
                                          of Trade Mission (TM)
                                          Market briefings from
                                          the U.S. Commercial Service
                                          and industry experts
                                          One-on-one business
                                          meetings
                                          Networking reception
                                          in Riyadh
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monday--April 25, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.   Government meetings
                                          Saudi-American
                                          Healthcare Forum (SAHF)
                                          speaking engagements for trade
                                          mission participants
                                          SAHF opening ceremony
                                          & gala dinner
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tuesday--April 26, Riyadh & Jeddah.....   SAHF speaking
                                          engagements/TM split
                                          Some TM
                                          representatives depart for
                                          Jeddah (PM)
                                          Networking reception
                                          in Jeddah
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wednesday--April 27, Jeddah + Kuwait...   One-on-one business
                                          meetings Jeddah (AM)
                                          Depart for Kuwait
                                          City, Kuwait (PM)
                                          Networking reception
                                          in Kuwait
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thursday--April 28, Kuwait City, Kuwait   Welcome and breakfast
                                          briefings
                                          Government meetings
                                          One-on-one business
                                          meetings
                                          Mission ends
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Web site: Please visit our official mission Web site for more 
information: https://www.export.gov/trademissions/saudikuwaithealthcare2016.

Participation Requirements

    All parties interested in participating in the trade mission 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 and will be notified whether they are chosen 
to participate in the mission. A minimum of 12 and maximum of 15 
companies and/or trade associations/organizations will be selected from 
the applicant pool to participate in the trade mission.

Fees and Expenses

    After an applicant has been selected to participate in the mission, 
a payment to the U.S. Department of Commerce in the form of a 
participation fee is required. Upon notification of acceptance to 
participate, those selected have five (5) business days to submit 
payment or the acceptance may be revoked.
    The participation fee for the trade mission to Saudi Arabia and 
Kuwait is $3,740 for small or medium-sized enterprises (SME) and $4,470 
for large companies. The fee for each additional representative (large 
firm or SME or trade association/organization) is $750.

Exclusions

    The mission fee does not include any personal travel expenses such 
as lodging, most meals, local ground transportation (except for 
transportation to and from meetings, airport transfers during the 
mission) and air transportation. Participants will, however, be able to 
take advantage of U.S. Government per diem rates for hotel rooms. 
Business or entry visas may be required for participation in the 
mission. Applying for and obtaining such visas will be the 
responsibility of the mission participant. Government fees and 
processing expenses to obtain such visas are not included in the 
participation fee. However, the U.S. Department of Commerce will 
provide instructions to each participant on the procedures required to 
obtain necessary business visas.

[[Page 62516]]

Conditions for Participation

    Applicants must submit a completed and signed mission application 
and supplemental application materials, including information on their 
products and/or services, primary market objectives, and goals for 
participation by February 12, 2016, but applications will be reviewed 
on a rolling basis beginning October 15, 2015 (see timeframe below). If 
the U.S. Department of Commerce receives an incomplete application, the 
Department may either: request additional information/clarification, 
take the lack of information into account when evaluating the 
application, or reject the application.
    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, are marketed under the name of a U.S. company and 
have at least fifty-one percent U.S. content by value. In the case of a 
trade association or organization, the applicant must certify that, for 
each firm or service provider to be represented by the association/
organization, the products and/or services the represented firm or 
service provider seeks to export are either produced in the United 
States or, if not, marketed under the name of a U.S. company and have 
at least fifty-one percent U.S. content.
    In addition, each applicant must:
     Certify that the products and services that it wishes to 
market through the mission would be in compliance with U.S. export 
controls and regulations;
     Certify that it has identified any matter pending before 
any bureau or office in the U.S. Department of Commerce;
     Certify that it has identified any pending litigation 
(including any administrative proceedings) to which it is a party that 
involves the U.S. Department of Commerce;
     Sign and submit an agreement that it and its affiliates 
(1) have not and will not engage in the bribery of foreign officials in 
connection with a company's/participant's involvement in this mission, 
and (2) maintain and enforce a policy that prohibits the bribery of 
foreign officials; and
     Certify that it meets the minimum requirements as stated 
in this announcement. In the case of a trade association/organization, 
the applicant must certify that each firm or service provider to be 
represented by the association/organization can make the above 
certifications.

Selection Criteria for Participation

    Targeted mission participants are U.S. manufacturers, services 
providers, and trade associations/organizations providing or promoting 
healthcare products/services that have an interest in entering or 
expanding their business in the Saudi and Kuwaiti markets. The 
following criteria will be evaluated in selecting participants:
     Suitability of a firm's or trade association's products or 
services to these markets;
     Firm's or trade association/organization's potential for 
business in the markets, including likelihood of exports resulting from 
the mission; and
     Consistency of the firm's or trade association/
organization goals and objectives with the stated scope of the mission.
    Additional factors, such as diversity of company size, type, 
location, and demographics, may also be considered during the review 
process. Referrals from political organizations and any documents, 
including the application, 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 U.S. 
Commerce Department trade mission calendar (http://www.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 for the 
mission will begin immediately and conclude no later than February 12, 
2016. The U.S. Department of Commerce will review applications and make 
selection decisions on a rolling basis beginning October 15, 2015 until 
the maximum of 15 participants is selected. Applications received after 
February 12, 2016, will be considered only if space and scheduling 
constraints permit.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: LeeAnne Haworth, U.S. Department of 
Commerce, Pittsburgh, PA, Tel: 412-644-2816, Email: 
[email protected].

Frank Spector,
Trade Missions Program.
[FR Doc. 2015-26008 Filed 10-15-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-DR-P