[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 61 (Thursday, March 30, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19060-19062]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-06616]


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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: 
Transportation and Logistics Trade Mission to Saudi Arabia, December 2-
5, 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 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

[[Page 19061]]

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. 
Companies will be selected on a rolling basis, with priority given to 
those that apply and pay earlier.

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, 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).

Transportation and Logistics Trade Mission to Saudi Arabia, December 2-
5, 2023

Summary

    The United States Department of Commerce, International Trade 
Administration (ITA), is organizing a Transportation and Logistics 
Trade Mission to Saudi Arabia, December 2-5, 2023. The purpose of the 
mission is to introduce U.S. companies to smart-mobility opportunities 
within the transportation and logistics ecosystems in Saudi Arabia and 
to help them find business partners in the region. The mission will 
target approximately 15 U.S. companies or trade associations (minimum 
10) that provide products and services related to a broad range of best 
prospect transportation and logistics subsectors in Saudi Arabia, 
namely companies involved in the development of freight, rail, smart 
ports, digitalization in supply chain and intermobility transport 
infrastructure technology in these markets.
    Recruitment and consideration will be extended to all export-ready 
companies that meet the established criteria for participation in the 
mission.
    The mission will begin in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia where delegates will 
participate in pre-arranged business-to-business (B2B) meetings and 
business-to-government (B2G) meetings with relevant transport-related 
ministries in Saudi Arabia, as well as attend a networking reception. 
Following these meetings, the delegates will travel to Jeddah, Saudi 
Arabia for activities focused on supply chain management and logistics, 
including site visits, business to business meetings and a networking 
reception.

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................................  December 2, 2023...........  Delegates arrive in Riyadh.
Sunday..................................  December 3, 2023...........  Riyadh B2B and B2G meetings and
                                                                        networking reception.
Monday..................................  December 4, 2023...........  Riyadh B2B appointments; travel to
                                                                        Jeddah, Jeddah networking reception.
Tuesday.................................  December 5, 2023...........  Jeddah B2B appointments; trade mission
                                                                        concludes.
 

Participation Requirements

    All parties interested in participating in the Transportation and 
Logistics Trade Mission to Saudi Arabia 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 satisfy the selection criteria as outlined below. A 
minimum of ten and approximately of fifteen 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

[[Page 19062]]

Commerce in the form of a participation fee is required. The 
participation fee for the Transportation and Logistics Trade Mission to 
Saudi Arabia will be $2,600 for small or medium-sized enterprises (SME) 
and $3,500 for large firms or trade associations.\1\ The fee for each 
additional firm representative (large firm or SME/trade organization) 
is $1,000 for both stops. 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. 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.
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    \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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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.
    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 (https://www.trade.gov/trade-missions-schedule) 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 conclude on August 30, 2023. The Department of Commerce 
will review applications on a rolling basis and inform applicants of 
selection decisions on a comparative basis. Applications received after 
August 30, 2023, will be considered only if space and scheduling 
constraints permit.

Contacts

Juanita Harthun (Recruitment Lead) Automotive & Smart Mobility Team 
Leader, +1 704-564-3592, [email protected]
Shirreff Loza (Project Lead) Director, Raleigh, NC Office, +1 919-695-
6365, [email protected]

U.S. & Foreign Commercial Service--Riyadh Team

Saad Ahmed, Commercial Specialist, +966-50-568-1768, 
[email protected]
Kerry LePain, Commercial Officer, +966-53-852-9761, 
[email protected]
Carla Men[eacute]ndez McManus (Project Manager), Deputy Senior 
Commercial Officer, +966-55-050-3497, [email protected]

U.S. & Foreign Commercial Service--Jeddah Team

Anwar Shaqhan, Senior Commercial Specialist, +966-50-554-6110, 
[email protected]

Gemal Brangman,
Director, ITA Events Management Task Force.
[FR Doc. 2023-06616 Filed 3-29-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-P