[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 31 (Wednesday, February 15, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9858-9861]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-03228]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration


Announcement of Approved International Trade Administration Trade 
Mission

AGENCY: International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.

SUMMARY: The United States Department of Commerce, International Trade 
Administration (ITA), is announcing one upcoming trade mission that 
will be recruited, organized, and implemented by ITA. This mission is: 
Global Diversity Export Initiative (GDEI) Business Mission to South 
Africa, Ghana, and Optional Stop in Nigeria, August 6-15, 2023. A 
summary of the mission is found below. Application information and more 
detailed mission information, including the commercial setting and 
sector information, can be found at the trade mission website: https://www.trade.gov/trade-missions. For each 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 (https://www.trade.gov/trade-missions-schedule) and other 
internet websites, 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeffrey Odum, Events Management Task 
Force, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 
1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone (202) 482-
6397 or email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

The Following Conditions for Participation Will Be Used for the Mission

    Applicants must submit a completed and signed mission application 
and supplemental application materials, including adequate information 
on their products and/or services, primary market objectives, and goals 
for participation that is adequate to allow the Department of Commerce 
to evaluate their application. If the Department of Commerce receives 
an incomplete application, the Department may either: reject the 
application, request additional information/clarification, or take the 
lack of information into account when evaluating the application. If 
the requisite minimum number of participants is not selected for a 
particular mission by the recruitment deadline, the mission may be 
cancelled.
    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. firm 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

[[Page 9859]]

under the name of a U.S. firm and have at least 51% U.S. content.
    A trade association/organization applicant must certify to the 
above for every company it seeks to represent on the mission. 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 Department of Commerce;
     Certify that it has identified any pending litigation 
(including any administrative proceedings) to which it is a party that 
involves the Department of Commerce; and
     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.
    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.

The Following Selection Criteria Will Be Used for the Mission

    Targeted mission participants are U.S. firms, services providers 
and trade associations/organizations providing or promoting U.S. 
products and services that have an interest in entering or expanding 
their business in the mission's destination country. The following 
criteria will be evaluated in selecting participants:
     Suitability of the applicant's (or in the case of a trade 
association/organization, represented firm's or service provider's) 
products or services to these markets;
     The applicant's (or in the case of a trade association/
organization, represented firm's or service provider's) potential for 
business in the markets, including likelihood of exports resulting from 
the mission; and
     Consistency of the applicant's (or in the case of a trade 
association/organization, represented firm's or service provider's) 
goals and objectives with the stated scope of the mission.
     ITA seeks to ensure that the trade mission represents a 
diverse swathe of U.S. businesses seeking to export. Considerations 
when reviewing applications will include: size of the company 
represented; volume and/or value of the company's current exports.
    Balance of applicants' location may also be considered during the 
review process.
    Referrals from a political party or partisan political group or 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. The sender will be notified of these exclusions.

Trade Mission Participation Fees

    If and when an applicant is selected to participate on a particular 
mission, a payment to the Department of Commerce in the amount of the 
designated participation fee below is required. Upon notification of 
acceptance to participate, those selected have 5 business days to 
submit payment or the acceptance may be revoked.
    Participants selected for a trade mission will be expected to pay 
for the cost of personal expenses, including, but not limited to, 
international travel, lodging, meals, transportation, communication, 
and incidentals, unless otherwise noted. Participants will, however, be 
able to take advantage of U.S. Government rates for hotel rooms. In the 
event that a mission is cancelled, no personal expenses paid in 
anticipation of a mission will be reimbursed. However, participation 
fees for a cancelled mission will be reimbursed to the extent they have 
not already been expended in anticipation of the mission.
    If a visa is required to travel on a particular mission, applying 
for and obtaining such a visa will be the responsibility of the mission 
participant. Government fees and processing expenses to obtain such a 
visa are not included in the participation fee. However, the Department 
of Commerce will provide instructions to each participant on the 
procedures required to obtain business visas. Trade Mission members 
participate in trade missions and undertake mission-related travel at 
their own risk. The nature of the security situation in a given foreign 
market at a given time cannot be guaranteed. The U.S. Government does 
not make any representations or guarantees as to the safety or security 
of participants. The U.S. Department of State issues U.S. Government 
international travel alerts and warnings for U.S. citizens available at 
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html/. Any question regarding insurance coverage must 
be resolved by the participant and its insurer of choice.

Definition of Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprise

    For purposes of assessing participation fees, an applicant is a 
small- or medium-sized enterprise (SME) if it qualifies as a ``small 
business'' under the Small Business Administration's (SBA) size 
standards (https://www.sba.gov/document/support--table-size-standards), 
which vary by North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) 
Code. The SBA Size Standards Tool (https://www.sba.gov/size-standards) 
can help you determine the qualifications that apply to your company.

Important Note About the COVID-19 Pandemic

    Travel and in-person activities are contingent upon the safety and 
health conditions in the United States and the mission countries. 
Should safety or health conditions not be appropriate for travel and/or 
in-person activities, the Department will consider postponing the event 
or offering a virtual program in lieu of an in-person agenda. In the 
event of a postponement, the Department will notify the public and 
applicants previously selected to participate in this mission will need 
to confirm their availability but need not reapply. Should the decision 
be made to organize a virtual program, the Department will adjust fees 
accordingly, prepare an agenda for virtual activities, a and notify the 
previously selected applicants with the option to opt-in to the new 
virtual program.
    Mission List: (additional information about trade missions can be 
found at https://www.trade.gov/trade-missions).

Global Diversity Export Initiative (GDEI) Business Mission to South 
Africa, Ghana, and Optional Stop in Nigeria, August 6-15, 2023

Summary

    The United States Department of Commerce, International Trade 
Administration (ITA), is organizing a Global Diversity Export 
Initiative (GDEI) Business Trade Mission to South Africa and Ghana with 
an optional stop in Nigeria from August 6-15, 2023. The timing of this 
mission is subject to change based on the confirmed dates of the 
African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Forum that is slated to take 
place in Johannesburg, South Africa, in August 2023. The mission will 
focus on building commercial bridges between U.S. businesses with 
owners and/or leaders from underserved communities (``underserved 
businesses'' or

[[Page 9860]]

``businesses from underserved communities'') with business communities 
in the target countries. The target participants will be businesses in 
the automotive, information and communication technology, safety and 
security, and consumer goods (i.e., cosmetic, toiletries, haircare, 
etc.) industries.
    Recruitment and consideration will be extended to all export-ready 
companies that meet the established criteria for participation in the 
mission. ITA is seeking to improve outreach and representation of 
businesses with owners and/or leaders from underserved communities. 
This mission is in alignment with Executive Order 13985 on Advancing 
Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the 
Federal Government (January 25, 2021) (E.O. 13985), the U.S. Department 
of Commerce Equity Action Plan, and the Global Diversity Export 
Initiative of the U.S. Commercial Service. For the purposes of the 
trade mission, ITA adopts the definition of ``underserved communities'' 
in E.O. 13985: ``populations sharing a particular characteristic, as 
well as geographic communities, that have been systematically denied a 
full opportunity to participate in aspects of economic, social, and 
civic life, as exemplified by the list in the preceding definition of 
`equity.' '' ``Equity'' is defined by E.O. 13985 as ``the consistent 
and systematic fair, just, and impartial treatment of all individuals, 
including individuals who belong to underserved communities that have 
been denied such treatment, such as Black, Latino, and Indigenous and 
Native American persons, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and 
other persons of color; members of religious minorities; lesbian, gay, 
bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) persons; persons with 
disabilities; persons who live in rural areas; and persons otherwise 
adversely affected by persistent poverty or inequality.'' This trade 
mission is also designed to be responsive to the priorities stated by 
Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo and outlined in the Equity Action 
Plan released in April 2022 which includes ``[s]trengthen[ing] small 
businesses in underserved communities by helping them be successful 
exporters''.
    In addition to publishing notice of the trade mission in the 
Federal Register, ITA is committed to outreach and recruitment through 
collaboration with organizations with ties to underserved communities. 
Federal agencies that will help to support recruitment for this mission 
include the U.S. Export-Import Bank and the Minority Business 
Development Agency.
    The mission will begin in Johannesburg, South Africa where 
delegates will participate in pre-arranged business to business (B2B) 
meetings with potential partners and customers and in market briefings 
with speakers from South Africa and surrounding countries. The market 
briefings will be an opportunity for mission participants to network 
and to gain a deeper understanding of the opportunities in the region. 
The market briefings will include Officers and Locally Employed 
Specialists from surrounding countries. Mission participants from the 
automotive industry have an optional site visit to a local automotive 
original equipment manufacturer (OEM). The mission will spend 2.5 days 
in South Africa. If the timing of the mission takes place alongside the 
anticipated AGOA Forum, participants could potentially spend extra time 
in South Africa to take advantage of the market briefings and 
networking opportunities associated with the Forum.
    After South Africa, the mission will proceed to Ghana in West 
Africa. In Ghana, mission participants will have the opportunity to 
participate in pre-arranged B2B meetings with potential partners and 
customers as well as a potential site visit to a manufacturing 
facility. Given recent government regulations imposing additional 
tariffs on automotive imports, this sector is no longer considered 
viable for American automotive exporters. Companies involved in ICT and 
Safety & Security will be better situated for B2B meetings in Ghana.
    After Ghana, mission participants have the option to proceed to the 
optional stop in Nigeria for two days after a weekend break. In 
Nigeria, participants will have B2B meetings with potential partners 
and customers. This stop will be optional as some of the target sectors 
for this mission face foreign exchange barriers making it difficult to 
enter and compete in the Nigerian market. It is noted that some 
consumer goods, including textiles and cosmetics/toiletries, are among 
the products that face this difficulty.\1\ The mission will conclude in 
Nigeria.
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    \1\ https://www.pulse.ng/business/cbn-fx-restriction-list-wheat-sugar-importation-ban/m45743k.
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Proposed Timetable

    * Note: The final schedule and potential site visits will depend on 
the availability of host government and business officials, specific 
goals of mission participants, and ground transportation. This 
timetable is subject to change once the confirmed dates for the AGOA 
Forum in August 2023 are announced.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sunday August 6, 2023.............   Trade Mission Participants
                                     Arrive in South Africa.
                                     Welcome Reception.
Monday August 7, 2023.............   Regional Market Briefings--
                                     AM.
                                     B2B Matchmaking Meetings--
                                     PM.
Tuesday August 8, 2023............   B2B Matchmaking Meetings
                                     Continue AM/PM.
                                     Optional site visits to
                                     manufacturing facilities PM.
Wednesday August 9, 2023..........   Travel day to Ghana.
Thursday August 10, 2023..........   B2B meetings AM/PM.
                                     Welcome Reception PM.
Friday August 11, 2023............   B2B Matchmaking Meetings
                                     Continue AM.
                                     Optional site visits to
                                     manufacturing facilities PM.
Saturday & Sunday August 12-13,      Weekend in Ghana and depart
 2023.                               for Nigeria for optional stop in
                                     Lagos.
August 14, 2023...................   B2B Matchmaking Meetings AM/
                                     PM.
                                     Welcome Luncheon or Dinner.
August 15, 2023...................   B2B Matchmaking Meetings AM/
                                     PM.
                                     Trade Mission concludes.
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[[Page 9861]]

Participation Requirements

    All parties interested in participating in the trade mission must 
submit an application package for consideration by the U.S. Department 
of Commerce (DOC). All applicants will be evaluated on their ability to 
meet the criteria as outlined above. A minimum of 20 participants will 
be selected for South Africa and Ghana, and 8 for the optional stop in 
Nigeria. The total number of participants will not exceed 30.

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 GDEI 
Business Development Trade Mission will be $3,725 for small or medium-
sized enterprises (SME) \2\ and trade organizations for South Africa 
and Ghana stops and $5,720 for all three stops and $6,520 for South 
Africa and Ghana stops and $10,300 for all three stops for large firms. 
The fee for each additional firm representative (large firm or SME/
trade organization) is $800 for SMEs and $1,300 for large companies. 
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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ For purposes of assessing participation fees, an applicant 
is a small or medium-sized enterprise (SME) if it qualifies under 
the Small Business Administration's (SBA) size standards (https://www.sba.gov/document/support--table-size-standards), which vary by 
North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code. The SBA 
Size Standards Tool [https://www.sba.gov/size-standards/] can help 
you determine the qualifications that apply to your company.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    If an applicant is selected to participate on a particular mission, 
a payment to the Department of Commerce in the amount of the designated 
participation fee below is required. Upon notification of acceptance to 
participate, those selected have 5 business days to submit payment or 
the acceptance may be revoked.
    Participants selected for a trade mission will be expected to pay 
for the cost of personal expenses, including, but not limited to, 
international travel, lodging, meals, transportation, communication, 
and incidentals, unless otherwise noted. Participants will, however, be 
able to take advantage of U.S. Government rates for hotel rooms. In the 
event that a mission is cancelled, no personal expenses paid in 
anticipation of a mission will be reimbursed. However, participation 
fees for a cancelled mission will be reimbursed to the extent they have 
not already been expended in anticipation of the mission.
    If a visa is required to travel on a particular mission, applying 
for and obtaining such a visa will be the responsibility of the mission 
participant. Government fees and processing expenses to obtain such a 
visa are not included in the participation fee. However, the Department 
of Commerce will provide instructions to each participant on the 
procedures required to obtain business visas.
    Trade Mission members participate in trade missions and undertake 
mission-related travel at their own risk. The nature of the security 
situation in a given foreign market at a given time cannot be 
guaranteed. The U.S. Government does not make any representations or 
guarantees as to the safety or security of participants. The U.S. 
Department of State issues U.S. Government international travel alerts 
and warnings for U.S. citizens available at https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/alertswarnings.html. Any question regarding 
insurance coverage must be resolved by the participant and its insurer 
of choice.

Timeframe 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 websites, press releases to general and trade media, 
direct mail, notices by industry trade associations/organizations 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 May 31, 2023. The U.S. 
Department of Commerce will review applications and inform applicants 
of selection decisions on a rolling basis. Applications received after 
May 31, 2023, will be considered only if space and scheduling 
constraints permit.

Contacts

    Terri Batch, ITS/GDEI lead, West LA USEAC, (310) 597-3575, 
[email protected].
    Nathalie Scharf, Director, St. Louis USEAC, (314) 432-1500, 
[email protected].
    Cynthia Griffin, RSCO, SSA, + 86-138-1197-8435, 
[email protected].
    Mike Bromley, CO, South Africa, +27 11 290 3227, 
[email protected].

Gemal Brangman,
Director, ITA Events Management Task Force.
[FR Doc. 2023-03228 Filed 2-14-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-P