[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 128 (Wednesday, July 3, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55224-55228]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-14648]


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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

[[Page 55225]]

one upcoming trade mission that will be recruited, organized, and 
implemented by ITA. This mission is: Global Diversity Export Initiative 
(GDEI) Trade Mission to the Caribbean Region, November 17-22, 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 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 by value.
    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 markets. 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 applicant 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 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).

Global Diversity Export Initiative (GDEI) Trade Mission to the 
Caribbean Region--November 17-22, 2024

Summary

    The United States Department of Commerce, International Trade 
Administration (ITA), is organizing a Global Diversity Export 
Initiative (GDEI) Trade Mission to the Caribbean region on November 17-
22, 2024, that will include the ``Opportunities for Minority-Led 
Businesses in the Caribbean Region Conference'' in Santo Domingo, 
Dominican Republic on November 17-18, 2024.
    Recruitment and consideration will be extended to all export-ready 
U.S. companies, including small businesses, trade associations, and 
other exporting organizations 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, including through the GDEI. This mission is 
focused on expanding export opportunities to U.S. small and medium-
sized businesses with owners and/or leaders from underserved 
communities from industries with growing potential in the Caribbean 
region. The mission is horizontal, with various sectors represented, 
based on best prospects for U.S. companies, such as automotive parts 
and services, consumer goods, construction equipment/road building

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machinery/building products/infrastructure projects, medical equipment 
and pharmaceuticals, ICT, energy equipment and services, safety and 
security equipment, hotel and restaurant equipment, franchising, 
manufacturing equipment, yachting/maritime services/sailing equipment, 
marine ports, aviation/airports, tourism and related construction, 
waste management, and water treatment and supply.
    This mission will also support the Department's GDEI, providing 
export promotion resources to businesses from underserved communities. 
U.S. small and medium-sized businesses with owners and/or leaders from 
underserved communities face unique obstacles in accessing overseas 
markets, including difficulty obtaining financing and lack knowledge 
about export opportunities. This mission will assist U.S. small and 
medium-sized businesses with owners and/or leaders from underserved 
communities to find partners and begin or expand their exports in seven 
markets. With almost 272,000 U.S. small and medium-sized businesses 
exporting, the limited number of companies from underserved communities 
participating in international trade is in stark contrast with the 
total universe of exporters. According to the most recent Census data 
(2021), from a sample of approximately 146,000 firms that export, 15% 
are women-owned; 6% are Hispanic-owned; 6% are veteran-owned; and 1% 
are Black or African American-owned firms. Additionally, based on the 
2020-2021 Census Bureau Profile of U.S. Importing and Exporting 
Companies and the 2022 Annual Business Survey, Caribbean countries were 
not in the top 15 markets ranked for women-owned small and medium-sized 
businesses and veteran-owned small and medium-sized businesses, while 
the Dominican Republic ranked as the 4th top export market for Hispanic 
American and Native American-owned small and medium-sized businesses 
and Jamaica ranked as the 8th top export market for Black or African 
American-owned small and medium sized businesses, indicating room for 
export growth to the Caribbean region among . Through these events, the 
Department of Commerce seeks to continue to scale the next generation 
of innovation, maintain global competitiveness, and ensure that more 
diverse businesses benefit from harnessing the potential of exports.
    Trade mission participants will arrive in Santo Domingo, Dominican 
Republic on November 17 to attend the opening reception for the 
``Opportunities for Minority-Led Businesses in the Caribbean Region 
Conference'', which is also open to U.S. companies not participating in 
the trade mission. The Business Conference will focus on regional and 
industry-specific sessions and will gather experts on market entry 
strategies, logistics, procurement, trade financing, access to capital, 
and other important topics to assist minorities business exporters. The 
registration fee for the business conference is included in the trade 
mission costs.
    On Sunday November 17, trade mission participants will participate 
in a networking lunch with a trade mission markets briefing, one-on-one 
meetings (U.S. diplomats and/or industry specialists from nine U.S. 
Embassies across the Caribbean region will be available), and a 
networking reception. On Monday November 18, participants will engage 
in the business conference that will include a morning plenary session, 
a networking lunch, afternoon workshops and one-one-one meetings with 
key service providers and U.S. diplomats and/or industry specialists, 
information and material on trade-related resources, and an evening 
networking reception. On Tuesday November 19, selected participants 
will either engage in business-to-business (B2B) meetings in Santo 
Domingo if approved for the Dominican Republic Trade Mission stop, or 
travel to other markets in the region to engage in B2B appointments in 
those markets. B2B meetings will be conducted with pre-screened 
potential buyers, agents, distributors or joint-venture partners, in 
the selected city/market in the Dominican Republic, and/or Barbados/
Eastern Caribbean, and/or Guyana, and/or Jamaica, and/or Suriname, and/
or The Bahamas and/or Trinidad and Tobago.
    The combination of the Opportunities for Minority-Led Businesses in 
the Caribbean Region Conference and B2B matchmaking opportunities in 
seven markets will provide participants with substantive information on 
strategies for entering or expanding their business in the Caribbean 
region, key contacts with Commercial Service and State Department 
officers and local staff, and networking opportunities to build vital 
business relationships.
    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), Executive Order 
14091 on Further Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved 
Communities Through the Federal Government (February 22, 2022) (E.O. 
14091), 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'' 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 aspires 
to ``harness the talents and strengths of all parts of the country, 
including women, people of color, and others who are too often left 
behind'' including by ``[s]trengthen[ing] small businesses in 
underserved communities by helping them be successful exporters''.
    Website: Please visit our official mission website for more 
information: https://events.trade.gov/TradeGov/GDEITradeMissionCaribbeanRegion.

Proposed Timetable

    This timetable allows for clients to take part in business 
matchmaking across the Caribbean region marketplace by offering 
scheduled business-to-business meetings in the Dominican Republic, and/
or Barbados/Eastern Caribbean, and/or Guyana, and/or Jamaica, and/or 
Suriname, and/or The Bahamas and/or Trinidad and Tobago. This structure 
ensures that each post has set days for meetings that allow the clients 
to explore at least two of their best prospects for business. The final 
schedule will depend on the availability of host government and 
business officials, specific goals of mission participants, and ground 
transportation.

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November 16, 2024............  Travel Day/Arrival in Santo Domingo,
                                Dominican Republic.
November 17, 2024............  Dominican Republic. Business Conference.
                                Afternoon: Registration, U.S. Embassy
                                Officer Meetings and Market Briefings.
                                Evening: Networking Reception.
November 18, 2024............  Dominican Republic. Business Conference.
                                Morning: Registration. Plenary Session.
                                Afternoon: U.S. Embassy Officer Meetings
                                and Workshops. Evening: Networking
                                Reception.
B2BMeeting Options:
    November 19-22, 2024.....  Travel to Business-to-Business Meetings
                                in (up to two markets): Option (A)
                                Dominican Republic. Option (B) Barbados/
                                Eastern Caribbean. Option (C) Guyana.
                                Option (D) Jamaica. Option (E) Suriname.
                                Option (F) The Bahamas. Option (G)
                                Trinidad and Tobago.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Participation Requirements

    All parties interested in participating in the U.S. Department of 
Commerce GDEI Trade Mission to the Caribbean region must complete and 
submit an application package for consideration by the U.S. 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 20 and a maximum of 30 firms and/or trade associations 
will be selected to participate in the mission on a first come, first 
served basis. During the registration process, applicants will be able 
to select the countries for which they would like to receive a brief 
market assessment. Upon receipt of market assessment reports, they will 
be able to select up to two stops for B2B meetings.
    All selected Trade Mission participants will attend the business 
conference in Santo Domingo and will have the opportunity for B2B 
meetings in up to two countries from the Dominican Republic, Barbados/
Eastern Caribbean, Guyana, Jamaica, Suriname, The Bahamas, and Trinidad 
and Tobago.
    The number of firms that may be selected for B2B meetings in each 
country is as follows: 15 for the Dominican Republic, 5 for Barbados/
Eastern Caribbean, 5 for Guyana, 5 for Jamaica, 5 for Suriname, 3 for 
The Bahamas, and 5 for Trinidad and Tobago.
    The trade mission is open to U.S. firms already doing business in 
The Caribbean region who are seeking to expand their market share and 
to those U.S. firms new to these markets.

Fees and Expenses

    After a firm or trade association is selected to participate on the 
mission, a payment to the Department of Commerce in the form of a 
participation fee is required. Up to two cities can be selected for 
business-to-business meetings.
    The fees are as follow:
    If only one stop is selected for business-to-business meetings, the 
participation fee will be $2,500 for a small or medium-sized 
enterprises (SME) [1] and $4,000 for large firms.
    If two stops are selected for business-to-business meetings, the 
participation fee will be $3,500 for a small or medium-sized 
enterprises (SME) [1] and $5,000 for large firms.
    The mission participation fees above include the Opportunities for 
Minority-Led Businesses in the Caribbean Region Conference registration 
fee of $500 for one participant per firm.
    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 above is required. Upon notification of 
acceptance, those selected have five 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 the 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 U.S. 
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 any 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 on www.trade.gov, the Trade Americas 
web page at https://www.trade.gov/trade-americas-events, and other 
internet websites, press releases to the general and trade media, 
direct mail and broadcast fax, notices by industry trade associations 
and other multiplier groups and announcements at industry meetings, 
symposia, conferences, and trade shows. The Commerce Department may 
also work with the U.S. Small Business Administration and the 
Organization of Minorities in International Trade to promote the 
mission.
    Recruitment for the mission will begin immediately and conclude no 
later than Friday, September 27, 2024. The U.S. Department of Commerce 
will review applications and make selection decisions on a rolling 
basis until the minimum or 20 or maximum of 30

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participants are selected. After Friday, September 27, 2024, companies 
will be considered only if space and scheduling constraints permit.

Contacts

U.S. Trade Americas Team Contact Information

Diego Gattesco, Director/Trade Americas Team Leader--U.S. Commercial 
Service Wheeling, WV; [email protected]; Tel: 304-243-5493

CS Dominican Republic Contact Information

Jennifer Kane, Senior Commercial Officer--U.S. Embassy Santo Domingo, 
Dominican Republic, [email protected].

Gemal Brangman,
Director, ITA Events Management Task Force.
[FR Doc. 2024-14648 Filed 7-2-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-P