[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 87 (Friday, May 3, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36756-36759]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-09715]


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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: 
Sub-Saharan Africa Rail and Port Trade Mission to South Africa and 
Angola--August 19-24, 2024. 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 
this 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, Trade Events 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 
canceled.
    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 by value.
    A trade association/organization applicant must certify to the 
above for all of the companies 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 the 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.

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

[[Page 36757]]

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.
    Mission List: (additional information about trade missions can be 
found at https://www.trade.gov/trade-missions).

Sub-Saharan Africa Rail and Port Trade Mission to South Africa and 
Angola--August 19-24, 2024.

Summary

    The United States Department of Commerce, International Trade 
Administration (ITA), is organizing a Sub-Saharan Africa Rail and Port 
Trade Mission (SSARP TM) to South Africa and Angola from August 19 
through August 24, 2024. The objective of this mission is to advance 
U.S. national interests and focus on meeting demand for U.S. rail and 
port solutions for African markets.
    The business development mission will bring 10-15 companies from 
U.S. rail and port manufacturers to Johannesburg, South Africa, to 
participate in the Southern African Railways Association (SARA) 
Conference and to Luanda and Lobito, Angola to meet with officials and 
potential buyers focused on the Lobito Corridor, the first strategic 
economic corridor launched by President Biden under the flagship G7 
Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment Initiative (PGI).
    ITA will organize a tailored program for U.S. companies exploring 
opportunities in African markets and will leverage strong connections 
with U.S. interagency partners to lead discussions on trade, financing, 
and technical aspects of doing business in Africa. Mission participants 
will have the opportunity to meet with transportation leaders at the 
SARA Conference, where leaders from across Africa will converge. 
Mission participants will participate in the expo and conference, 
develop business prospects through ITA-hosted networking events, vetted 
business-to-business matchmaking, roundtable discussions with U.S. and 
foreign government and industry leaders, product presentations, and 
site visits to manufacturing and infrastructure facilities.
    Mission participants will receive assistance to secure meetings, 
gain greater exposure to African markets, and benefit from the guidance 
and insights of ITA's commercial team and the support and expertise of 
interagency partners focused on funding and financing opportunities for 
U.S. companies working in Africa, including EX-IM Bank, DFC, TDA, and 
other USG partners.

South Africa Stop

    The anchor event for the SSARP TM is the SARA Conference and 
Exhibition (August 21-23, 2024) in Johannesburg, an annual event that 
has been gaining traction in recent years (https://www.sararailconference.com/conference/). It is closely linked to the 
Transportation Committee (https://www.sadc.int/pillars/transport) of 
the Southern African Development Community (SADC), which seeks to 
increase integration, investment, and development of the rail sector in 
southern Africa.
    The SARA Conference has traditionally attracted many regional rail 
stakeholders (government, parastatals, operating concessionaries, and 
service providers) from SADC, primarily in rail, but also mining and 
ports. SADC consists of Angola, Botswana, Comoros, the Democratic 
Republic of Congo, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, 
Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, the United Republic of 
Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Angola Stop

    The second destination for the SSARP TM is Luanda and Lobito in 
Angola. Angola was selected as a second stop to increase U.S. rail and 
port companies' awareness and engagement in the Lobito Corridor 
Project, which is a flagship project under PGI. The Lobito Corridor 
will integrate Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the 
northwestern part of Zambia, into regional and global markets via 
Angola's Port of Lobito. The project represents the largest financial 
investment through the U.S. Export-Import (EXIM) Bank. The endeavor 
will develop green energy supply chains, and is envisioned to spur 
investments in agriculture, telecommunications, natural resources, 
logistics, and additional supply-chain sub-sectors in Angola.

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.


------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monday, August 19, 2024...........   Trade Mission Participants
Johannesburg, South Africa........   Arrive in Johannesburg, South
                                     Africa.
                                     No Host Dinner with
                                     Business Development Mission
                                     Participants.
Tuesday, August 20, 2024..........   U.S. Embassy Team Briefing.
Johannesburg, South Africa........   Policy Roundtable with
                                     interagency partners.
                                     One-on-one business
                                     matchmaking.
                                     Evening Reception.
Wednesday, August 21, 2024........   SARA Conference
Johannesburg, South Africa........   participation.
                                     SARA networking events.
                                     One-on-one business
                                     matchmaking.
                                     Evening Reception.
Thursday, August 22, 2024.........   SARA Conference
Johannesburg, South Africa-Luanda,   participation.
 Angola.                             One-on-one business
                                     matchmaking.
                                     Site visit to
                                     infrastructure projects.
                                     Travel to Luanda, Angola.
Friday, August 23, 2024...........   U.S. Embassy Team Briefing:
Luanda, Angola-Lobito, Angola.....   In-depth discussion on the Lobito
                                     Corridor project.
                                     B2B meeting and B2G
                                     meetings: Ministry of
                                     Transportation, Angolan Cargo and
                                     Logistics Certification Regulatory
                                     Agency, local companies currently
                                     providing services to the port of
                                     Luanda, Maritime and Port Institute
                                     Director (TBC).
                                     Site Visit to the Port of
                                     Luanda (Operations Tour and meeting
                                     with Luanda Port Board members)
                                     (TBC).
                                     Evening Networking
                                     reception.
Saturday, August 24, 2024.........   Travel to Benguela (one
Lobito, Angola....................   hour flight; take the first
                                     available morning flight).
                                     Drive directly to Lobito
                                     infrastructure sites--Conduct port
                                     and rail site visits.
                                     B2B meeting and B2G
                                     meetings: Ministry of
                                     Transportation, Angolan Cargo and
                                     Logistics Certification Regulatory
                                     Agency, infrastructure project
                                     leaders, National Institute of
                                     Railways of Angola, Association of
                                     Ports of Angola (TBC).

[[Page 36758]]

 
                                     Evening Networking
                                     Reception.
                                     End of Mission.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Participation Requirements

    All parties interested in participating in the trade mission 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 best satisfy the selection 
criteria as outlined below. A minimum of 10 and a maximum of 15 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 
in the mission, a payment to the Department of Commerce in the form of 
a participation fee is required. The participation fee for the Business 
Development Mission will be $5,775.00 for small or medium-sized 
enterprises (SME)1; and $6,620.00 for large firms or trade 
associations. The fee for each additional firm representative (large 
firm or SME/trade organization) is $1000.00. 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 and when an applicant is selected to participate in 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 canceled, no personal expenses paid in 
anticipation of a mission will be reimbursed. However, participation 
fees for a canceled 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.
    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 
previous selected applicants with the option to opt-in to the new 
virtual program.

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 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 28, 2024. The U.S. 
Department of Commerce will review applications and inform applicants 
of selection decisions on a rolling basis. Applications received after 
June 28, 2024, will be considered only if space and scheduling 
constraints permit.

Contacts

Luke Yanos, Senior International Trade Specialist, U.S. Commercial 
Service Chicago, +1 (872) 327-8038, [email protected]
Johan van Rensburg, Senior Commercial Specialist--Rail and Mining, U.S. 
Embassy, Commercial Section, Johannesburg, South Africa
Mike Bromley, Commercial Officer, U.S. Embassy, Commercial Section, 
Johannesburg, South Africa, +27 (11)-290-3227, 
[email protected]
R. Taylor Moore, Commercial Counselor, U.S. Commercial Service, U.S. 
Embassy Maputo, Mozambique, +258 84.314.1687, [email protected]
Matthew Case, Commercial Officer, U.S. Commercial Service Boston, +1 
(617) 565-4309, [email protected]
Michel E. Nouafo, Senior International Trade Specialist, U.S. 
Commercial Service Cleveland, +1 (216) 695-5338, 
[email protected]
Forrest Nielsen, International Trade Specialist, Industry & Analysis, 
+1 (202) 839-2363, [email protected]
Mashal Shabbir, Desk Officer, Global Markets
Ian Cook, International Trade Specialist, Industry & Analysis, +1 (202) 
617-5303, [email protected]
Heather McLeod, Commercial Officer, U.S. Commercial Service Luanda, 
[email protected]
Mauro Fonseca, Commercial Assistant, U.S. Commercial Service Luanda, 
[email protected]
Juanita Harthun, Automotive and Smart Mobility Team Leader, U.S. 
Commercial Service Charlotte, [email protected]
Richard Boll, Senior International Trade Specialist, Industry & 
Analysis, [email protected]
Ryan Russell, Director, U.S. Commercial Service Pittsburgh, 
[email protected]

[[Page 36759]]

John Tracy, Senior International Trade Specialist, U.S. Commercial 
Service Syracuse, [email protected]

Gemal Brangman,
Director, ITA Events Management Task Force.
[FR Doc. 2024-09715 Filed 5-2-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-P