International Buyer Program (Formerly Known as the Foreign Buyer Program); Support for Domestic Trade Shows

SUMMARY: This notice sets forth objectives, procedures and application

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

International Buyer Program (IBP) to support domestic trade shows:

Selection in the International Buyer Program for Fiscal Year (FY) 1998.

The International 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 International

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 Commercial Service of the United States of

America (formerly referred to as United States and Foreign Commercial

Service) in 70 countries representing America's major trading partners,

and also in U.S. Embassies in countries where the Commercial Service of

the United States of America does not maintain offices.

The Department expects to select approximately 22 shows for FY 1998

from among applicants to the program. Shows selected for the

International Buyer Program will provide an avenue 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 a

participation agreement between the DOC and the show organizer

specifying which services are to be rendered by DOC as part of the IBP

and, in turn, what responsibilities are agreed to be performed 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 Commercial Service of the United States of

America unless otherwise indicated.

DATES: Applications must be received by August 5, 1996. A contribution

of $6,000 for shows of five days or less in duration is required. For

shows of more than five days in duration or with multiple International

Business Centers (IBC's) the contribution is $8,000. Contributions are

for shows selected by the IBP for inclusion in the FY 1998 program.

ADDRESSES: Export Promotion Services/International Buyer Program,

Commercial Service of the United States of America, International Trade

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

Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20230. Telephone: (202)

482-0481 (Facsimile applications will not be accepted.)

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

Boney, Product Manager, International 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, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20230. Telephone: (202)

482-0148 or Fax: (202) 482-0115.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The International Trade Administration (ITA)

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

International Buyer Program (IBP) for events taking place between

October 1, 1997, and September 30, 1998.

Under the IBP, the Department seeks to bring international buyers

together with U.S. firms by selecting domestic trade shows in

industries with high export potential and promoting them in

international markets. 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 approximately 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 mentioned below.

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

leading domestic trade show appropriate for promotion in overseas

markets by U.S. Embassies and Consulates. Selection does not constitute

a guarantee by the U.S. Government of the show's success. Selection is

not an endorsement of the show organizer except as to its International

Buyer Program activities. Non-selection should not be viewed as an

indication 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 or

horizontal (non-industry specific) events. 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 1996 and 1997 are not eligible

for inclusion in this program in fiscal year 1998, but can be

considered in subsequent years). Notwithstanding any other provision of

the law, no person is required to respond to, nor shall any person be

subject to a penalty for failure to comply with a collection of

information, subject to the requirements of the PRA, unless that

collection of information displays a currently valid OMB Control

Number.

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, D.C. 20230 and to the Office of Information and

Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Paperwork

Reduction Project (0625-0151), Washington, D.C. 20503.

General Selection Criteria

Subject to Departmental budget and resource constraints, those

events will

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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 Commercial

Service of the United States of America 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 services in that

industry.

(e) Exhibitor Interest: There is a 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 conform to the expected

norms of an international-class trade show.

(h) Cooperation: The applicant demonstrates a willingness to

cooperate with the Commercial Service of the United States of America

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 IBP will be

taken into account in evaluating current applications to the program.

Authority: The statutory authority allowing the Department to

provide the type of assistance contemplated under the International

Buyer Program is 15 U.S.C. 4724.

John Klinglehut,

Deputy Director, Office of Public/Private Initiatives, The Commercial

Services of the United States, International Trade Administration, U.S.

Department of Commerce.

[FR Doc. 96-15587 Filed 6-18-96; 8:45 am]

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