[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 37 (Friday, February 24, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11895-11898]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-03885]


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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: 
Healthcare Trade Mission to Saudi Arabia (Riyadh, Dhahran, Jeddah) 
September 9-14, 2023.
    A summary of the mission is found below. Application information 
and

[[Page 11896]]

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 of Commerce 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 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. Balance of 
company size and 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. The 
Department of Commerce will evaluate applications and inform applicants 
of selection decisions on a rolling basis until the maximum number of 
participants has been selected.

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.

[[Page 11897]]

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, 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).

Healthcare Trade Mission to Saudi Arabia (Riyadh, Dhahran, Jeddah) 
September 9-14, 2023

Summary

    The International Trade Administration (ITA), the trade promotion 
arm of the United States Department of Commerce, is organizing a 
Healthcare Trade Mission to Saudi Arabia September 9-14, 2023. The 
purpose of the mission is to assist U.S. companies in pursuing 
healthcare opportunities in this rapidly expanding market. The mission 
will target approximately twenty U.S. companies or trade associations 
(minimum 15) that provide products and services related to a broad 
range of best prospect healthcare subsectors in Saudi Arabia.
    Recruitment and consideration will be extended to all export-ready 
companies that meet the established criteria for participation in the 
mission.
    Through this mission, participating U.S. firms will gain market 
insights, make industry and government contacts, solidify business 
strategies and advance specific projects with the goal of increasing 
U.S. healthcare product and service exports. This Saudi Arabia-focused 
trade mission will start in Riyadh, with stops in Dhahran and Jeddah. 
Participants will receive market briefings from U.S. Commercial Service 
and industry experts, have one-on-one business meetings with Saudi 
public and private sector representatives, have access to targeted site 
visits, and participate in networking events.

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.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Saturday, September 9, 2023............   Trade Mission
                                          Participants Arrive in Riyadh.
Sunday, September 10, 2023.............   Saudi Arabia Market
                                          Briefing by Country Team.
                                          Saudi Government
                                          Market and Industry Briefings
                                          (B2G meetings).
                                          Site Visit.
                                          Return to Hotel.
Monday, September 11, 2023.............   B2B Meetings.
                                          Lunch.
                                          B2B Meetings.
                                          Down Time.
                                          Networking Reception.
Tuesday, September 12, 2023............   Travel to Dhahran.
                                          Briefing with Consul
                                          General.
                                          Working Lunch.
                                          B2B Meetings at Hotel.
                                          Networking Reception.
Wednesday, September 13, 2023..........   Additional B2B
                                          Meetings or Site Visit in
                                          Dhahran.
                                          Travel to Jeddah.
                                          Site Visit in Jeddah.
                                          Networking Reception.
Thursday, September 14, 2023...........   B2B Meetings (all
                                          day).
                                          Return to Hotel.
                                          Trade Mission
                                          Participants Depart Jeddah
                                          Enroute to U.S.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Participation Requirements

    All parties interested in participating in the trade mission must 
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 minimum of fifteen and maximum of twenty companies 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 this trade 
mission will be $3,100 for small or medium-sized enterprises (SME); and 
$4,100 for large firms or trade associations.\1\ The fee for each 
additional firm representative (large firm or SME/trade organization) 
is $1,000 for all three stops. Expenses for travel, lodging, meals, and 
incidentals will be the responsibility of each mission participant. 
Interpreter and driver services can be arranged for

[[Page 11898]]

additional cost. Delegation members will be able to take advantage of 
U.S. Embassy rates for hotel rooms.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ 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 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 
Department of Commerce 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 
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 June 20th, 2023. The 
Department of Commerce will evaluate applications and inform applicants 
of selection decisions on a rolling basis until the maximum number of 
participants has been selected. Applications received after June 20th, 
2023, will be considered only if space and scheduling constraints 
permit.

Contacts

Carla V. Men[eacute]ndez McManus--Project Manager, Deputy Senior 
Commercial Officer, U.S. Department of Commerce, Embassy of the United 
States of America, Mobile: +966-55-0503497, Email: 
[email protected]
Khalid Khan, Commercial Specialist, U.S. Commercial Service, Riyadh, 
Office: +966-11-4883800 ext. 4302, Email: [email protected]
Bailey Rowell--Recruitment Lead, Senior International Trade Specialist, 
U.S. Commercial Service, Minneapolis, Office: +1 312-505-2785, Email: 
[email protected]
Lisa Huot, Senior International Trade Specialist, Office of Health and 
Information Technologies, Industry & Analysis, Washington, DC, Office 
+1 202-482-2796; Mobile: +1 202-839-2342, Email: [email protected]
Crystal Mills, Global Healthcare Team Leader, U.S. Commercial Service, 
Charlotte, North Carolina, Office: +1 704-333-0314, Email: 
[email protected]

Gemal Brangman,
Director, ITA Events Management Task Force.
[FR Doc. 2023-03885 Filed 2-23-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-P