Foreign Buyer Program; Support for Domestic Trade Shows; Notice DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

SUMMARY: This notice sets forth objectives, procedures and application

review criteria associated with the U.S. Department of Commerce's

Foreign Buyer Program (FBP) to support domestic trade shows: Selection

in the Foreign Buyer Program for Fiscal Year 1996.

The Foreign Buyer Program was established to bring international

buyers together with U.S. firms by promoting leading U.S. trade shows

in industries with high export potential. The Foreign Buyer Program

emphasizes cooperation between the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC)

and trade show organizers to benefit U.S. firms exhibiting at selected

events and provides practical, hands-on assistance to U.S. companies

interested in exporting such as export counseling and market analysis.

The assistance provided to show organizers includes worldwide overseas

promotion of selected shows to potential international buyers, end-

users, representatives and distributors. The worldwide promotion is

executed through the offices of the Commerce Department's U.S. and

Foreign Commercial Service (US&FCS) in 69 countries representing

America's major trading partners, and also in U.S. Embassies in

countries where the US&FCS does not maintain offices. The Department

annually selects 22 trade shows from among applicants to the program.

Shows selected for the Foreign Buyer Program will provide a venue for

U.S. companies interested in expanding their sales into international

markets. Successful applicants will be required to enter into a

Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that sets forth the specific actions

to be performed by the show organizer and the DOC. The MOU constitutes

an agreement between the DOC and the show organizer specifying services

to be rendered by DOC as part of the FBP and responsibilities assumed

by the show organizer. Anyone wishing to apply will be sent a copy of

the MOU along with the application package. The services to be rendered

by DOC will be carried out by the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service

unless otherwise indicated.

DATES: Applications must be received by July 15, 1994. A contribution

of $4,000 for shows of 5 days or less in duration is required. For

shows over five days in duration a contribution of $6,000 is required.

Contributions are for shows selected and promoted during the October 1,

1995, and September 30, 1996, period.

ADDRESSES: Export Promotion Services/Foreign Buyer Program, U.S. and

Foreign Commercial Service (US&FCS), International Trade

Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, room 2116, 14th and

Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230. Tel.: (202) 482-0481

(facsimile applications will not be accepted).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON WHEN, WHERE, AND HOW TO APPLY: Contact Bill

Crawford, Product Manager, Foreign Buyer Program, room 2116, Export

Promotion Services, U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service, International

Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th and

Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230. Tel: (202) 482-0481 or

FAX: (202) 482-0115.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The International Trade Administration (ITA)

of the U.S. Department of Commerce is accepting applications for the

Foreign Buyer Program (FBP) for events taking place between October 1,

1995, and September 30, 1996.

Under the FBP, the Department seeks to bring international buyers

together with U.S. firms by selecting and promoting in international

markets domestic trade shows in industries with high export potential.

Selection of a trade show is one-time, i.e., a trade show organizer

seeking selection for a recurring event must submit a new application

for selection for each occurrence of the event. If the event occurs

more than once in the 12 month period covering this announcement, the

trade show organizer must submit a separate application for each event.

The Department will select 22 events to support during this 12

month period. The Department will select those events that, in its

judgment, most clearly meet the Department's objectives and selection

criteria.

Selection indicates that the Department has found the event to be a

leading international trade show appropriate for participation by U.S.

exporting firms and promotion in overseas markets by U.S. Embassies and

Consulates. Selection does not constitute a guarantee by the U.S.

Government of success of the show or of the undertakings or obligations

of the show organizer. Selection is not an endorsement of the show

organizer except as to its Foreign Buyer activities. Non-selection

should not be viewed as a finding that the event will not be successful

in the promotion of U.S. exports.

Exclusions: Trade shows will not be considered that are either

first time events or are horizontal, that is, not industry specific.

Annual trade shows will not be selected for this program more than

twice in any three year period (e.g., shows selected for fiscal years

1994 and 1995 are not eligible for inclusion in this program in fiscal

year 1996, but can be considered in subsequent years).

The Office of Management and Budget has approved the information

collection requirements of the application to this program under the

provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et.

seq.) (OMB control no. 0625-0151).

Public reporting burden for this collection of information is

estimated to average 3 hours per response, including the time for

reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and

maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the

collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate

or any other aspect of this collection of information, including

suggestions for reducing this burden, to Reports Clearance Officer,

International Trade Administration, room 4001, U.S. Department of

Commerce, Washington, DC 20230 and to the Office of Information and

Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Paperwork

Reduction Project (0625-0151), Washington, DC 20503.

General Selection Criteria: Subject to Departmental budget and

resource constraints, those events will be selected that, in the

judgment of the Department, most clearly meet the following criteria:

(a) Export Potential: The products and services to be promoted at

the trade show are from U.S. industries that have high export

potential, as determined by U.S. Department of Commerce sources, i.e.,

best prospects lists and U.S. export statistics. (Certain industries

are rated as priorities by our domestic and international commercial

officers in their Country Commercial Guides.)

(b) International Interest: The trade show meets the needs of a

significant number of overseas markets covered by the US&FCS and

corresponds to marketing opportunities as identified by the posts in

their Country Commercial Guides (e.g. best prospects lists). Previous

international attendance at the show may be used as an indicator.

(c) Scope of the Show: The trade show offers a broad spectrum of

U.S. made products and/or services for the subject industry. Trade

shows with a majority of U.S. firms will be given preference.

(d) Stature of the Show: The trade show is clearly recognized by

the industry it covers as a leading event for the promotion of that

industry's products and services both domestically and internationally

and as a showplace for the latest technology or techniques in that

industry.

(e) Exhibitor Interest: There is demonstrated interest on the part

of U.S. exhibitors in receiving international business visitors during

the trade show. A significant number of these exhibitors should be new-

to-export or seeking to expand sales into additional international

markets.

(f) Overseas Marketing: There has been demonstrated effort made to

market prior shows overseas. In addition, the applicant should describe

in detail the international marketing program to be conducted for the

event, explaining how efforts should increase individual and group

international attendance.

(g) Logistics: The trade show site, facilities, transportation

services and availability of accommodations are in the stature of an

international-class trade show.

(h) Cooperation: The applicant demonstrates willingness to

cooperate with the US&FCS to fulfill the program's goals and to adhere

to target dates set out in the Memorandum of Understanding and the

event timetable, both of which are available from the program office

(see ``For Further Information on When, Where, and How to Apply'').

Past experience in the FBP will be taken into account in evaluating

current applications to the program.

Authority: The statutory authority authorizing the Department to

provide the type of assistance contemplated under the Foreign Buyer

Program is 15 U.S.C. 4724.

Ann H. Watts,

Director, Cooperative Events Division, Office of Export Marketing

Programs, Export Promotion Services, U.S. and Foreign Commercial

Service, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of

Commerce.

[FR Doc. 94-13199 Filed 5-27-94; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510-FP-P