[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 12 (Thursday, January 18, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Page 3382]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-00913]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration


Announcement of U.S. Company Recruitment for the March 11-12, 
2024 Presidential Trade and Investment Mission to the Philippines

AGENCY: International Trade Administration (ITA), Department of 
Commerce (DOC).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Commerce is assisting the White House 
in recruitment of U.S. companies to participate in a Presidential Trade 
and Investment Mission to the Philippines.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elliott Brewer, Philippines Desk 
Officer, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, 
Washington, DC 20230; telephone: 202-430-8025; email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The United States seeks to send a 
Presidential Trade and Investment Mission (PTIM) to the Philippines 
from March 11-12, 2024. The intent to dispatch the PTIM was announced 
by President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. on May 1, 2023, during the visit of 
Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. to Washington, DC. As 
described in the White House's fact sheet on ``Investing in the Special 
Friendship and Alliance Between the United States and the 
Philippines,'' the purpose of the PTIM is to enhance U.S. companies' 
investment in the Philippines' innovation economy, its clean energy 
transition and critical minerals sector, and the food security of its 
people. The mission will feature the highest caliber of U.S. business 
leaders dedicated to strengthening U.S.-Philippine trade and investment 
ties in these areas. Trade mission delegates will meet with Government 
of Philippines officials in Manila to learn more about business 
development incentives and to discuss regulatory reforms. These 
discussions will help identify policy actions that support mutually 
beneficial economic and commercial outcomes. Trade mission delegates 
will also be able to join networking events with relevant local firms 
and business organizations to foster business-to-business trade and 
investment promotion opportunities.
    The U.S. Department of Commerce is assisting the White House in 
recruitment of U.S. companies to participate in the PTIM and welcomes 
statements of interest in participation in the PTIM from U.S.-
headquartered companies that can help the United States and Philippines 
achieve the goals described above. Priority will be given to companies 
that are (1) willing to participate in the PTIM at the Chief Executive 
Officer, President, or other senior executive level, (2) conducting or 
developing plans to conduct business in both countries, and (3) engaged 
in work related to the clean energy transition, critical minerals 
sector, food security, or that promotes the Philippines' innovation 
economy, including its digital transformation, and/or greater supply 
chain resilience. This list of business areas is not intended to be 
exhaustive. Each company that is selected will be permitted to have one 
primary representative at the Chief Executive Officer, President, or 
other senior executive level join the PTIM, along with one additional 
supporting representative. Company representatives must be able to 
travel to the Philippines and to locations in the United States to 
attend PTIM meetings, as well as PTIM preparatory meetings. Travel and 
in-person activities are contingent upon the safety and health 
conditions in the United States and the Philippines. Should safety or 
health conditions not be appropriate for travel and/or in-person 
activities, one or more meetings may be postponed or scheduled 
virtually instead. It is also possible that the entire mission would be 
postponed or cancelled in response to changes in safety or health 
conditions.
    No fees will be collected from trade mission delegates. Trade 
mission delegates and their sponsoring companies will be responsible 
for covering all travel, lodging, meals, and incidental expenses 
associated with the PTIM.
    Interested companies should submit the following information to the 
U.S. Department of Commerce at [email protected] by Tuesday, January 30, 
2024:
     Company Name;
     Name of Chief Executive Officer or President;
     U.S. State of Incorporation;
     Corporate Headquarters;
     Principal Place of Business;
     Main Address (Street Address, City, State, and Zip Code);
     List of Subsidiary or Affiliate Offices in Asia (including 
in the Philippines);
     Industry Area(s);
     Main Products and Services;
     A brief (up to one page) Statement of Interest explaining:
    [cir] Your company's goals and qualifications for the mission.
    [cir] How your company's participation in the mission will 
strengthen U.S.-Philippines trade and investment ties.
    [cir] How your company's work can support the clean energy 
transition, critical minerals sector, food security, or innovation 
economy--including efforts to advance digital transformation and/or 
greater supply chain resilience in the Philippines.
     Name, title, work email, phone number, and biography of 
your Chief Executive Officer, President, or other senior executive who 
would represent the company on the PTIM.
     Name, title, work email, and phone number of the main 
working-level point of contact that will facilitate the senior 
executive's participation in the mission.
     Name, title, work email, phone number, and biography of 
one optional accompanying staff person (if applicable).
    The selection of companies for the PTIM will be evaluated on a 
comparative basis by: (1) the level of executive representation; (2) 
consistency of the applicant's goals and objectives with the stated 
scope of the mission; (3) suitability of the applicant's products or 
services to the Philippines market; and (4) the applicant's potential 
for developing trade and investment opportunities in the Philippines 
market.
    Statements of interest received after January 30 will be considered 
only if space and scheduling constraints permit. Please direct any 
questions or requests for more information about the PTIM to Mr. 
Elliott Brewer at 202-430-8025 or [email protected].

David Nufrio,
Deputy Director of the Office of Southeast Asia.
[FR Doc. 2024-00913 Filed 1-17-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-FP-P