Trade Mission to Bahia, Brazil, May 19-28, 1997

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

Trade Mission to Bahia, Brazil, May 19-28, 1997

AGENCY: International Trade Administration, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice serves to inform the public of a trade mission to

Bahia, Brazil to be held May 19-28, 1997 (``the mission''); provides

interested U.S. firms with the opportunity to submit an application to

participate in the mission; sets forth objectives, procedures, and

selection review criteria for the mission; and requests applications.

The recruitment and selection of private sector participants in the

mission will be conducted in accordance with the Statement of Policy

Governing Department of Commerce Overseas Trade Missions announced by

Secretary Daley on March 3, 1997 and reflected herein.

DATES: Applications should be received by May 5, 1997. This mission is

scheduled for May 19 through May 28, 1997. Applications received after

that date will be considered only if space and scheduling constraints

permit.

ADDRESSES: Request for and submission of applications: Applications are

available from: Paulo Mendes, Project Officer, Department of Commerce,

14th and Constitution Avenue, N.W., Room 3025, Washington, DC 20230;

phone 202-482-3872; facsimile 202-482-4157. Numbers listed in this

notice are not toll-free. An original and two copies of the required

application materials should be sent to the Project Officer at the

above address. Applications sent by facsimile must be immediately

followed by submission of the original application to the Project

Officer.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paulo Mendes, Project Officer, 202-

482-3872.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Mission Description

As part of the outreach component of the U.S.-Brazil Business

Development Council (BDC), ITA will organize and lead a trade mission

to the state of Bahia, Brazil. Because of Brazil's prospects for

continued economic growth over the next few years, the U.S. Department

of Commerce has developed special initiatives to assist U.S. companies

establish stronger bilateral commercial relations, including the U.S.-

Brazil BDC. The BDC was formed to develop a program of activities to

facilitate bilateral commerce and is comprised of public and private

sector members. A major objective of the BDC is to cultivate U.S.

business links with non-traditional economic areas in Brazil, including

the state of Bahia.

The mission will introduce U.S. companies to opportunities for the

sales of U.S. goods and services and investment in the emerging

northeastern region of Brazil. The region is undergoing an industrial

boom; it received over US$6 billion in foreign direct investment in

1995 and 1997. It is expected that the state will attract over US$20

billion in foreign direct investment between 1997 and 2012. There is a

rapidly growing market for U.S. products and services which are often

related to new investments in the state.

The mission is intended to provide greater access and expose U.S.

firms to the booming state of Bahia, Brazil. Moreover, because the

state of Bahia is the gateway to other growing markets in the

northeastern region of Brazil, it will provide participant companies a

foothold in the region.

This will be a ``horizontal'' mission. The industry focus of the

mission will depend on the mix of companies--limited to 15--that ITA is

able to recruit. The sectors of the state of Bahia economy which

present best opportunities for U.S. companies include: (1) Chemicals

and petrochemicals, (2) telecommunications, (3) tourism (hotels and

resorts), (4) mining, (5) paper and pulp, (6) electricity, and (7)

agribusiness.

The itinerary of the mission should include the following stops:

Salvador, Brasilia, Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. The exact itinerary

will depend on the final mix of participating companies. The stops in

cities outside the state of Bahia may be scheduled to facilitate and

enhance the commercial activities in the target market.

Mission Goals

The goals of the mission are to increase U.S. exports and promote

U.S. investment in Bahia and to cultivate U.S. business links with non-

traditional economic areas in Brazil, including the state of Bahia.

Similarly to what was done in prior missions, we will measure our

effectiveness by actual exports and/or investments triggered by the

trade mission. Accordingly, after the mission, we will monitor progress

made by the companies.

Mission Scenario

We will offer the following opportunities to the private sector

participants: (1) Contacts with high level government officials, (2)

one-on-

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one matchmaking meetings, (3) in-depth workshops on doing business in

Brazil, and (4) all logistical support. We expect that individuals--

after participating in the mission--will feel comfortable operating in

Brazil and, thus, will know how to establish an effective strategy to

penetrate and/or expand their commercial presence in Brazil.

Participation Criteria

A maximum of 15 companies will be selected to participate in the

mission. Participants must be potential exporters to and/or investors

in the state of Bahia or neighboring regions. We will assess a

company's potential to penetrate the Brazilian market in light of the

opportunities in Bahia and select the best candidates based on the

following factors: (1) Consistency of a company's goals with the scope,

nature and desired outcome of the mission as described herein; (2)

Relevance of a company's business line to the plan for the mission; (3)

Past, present and prospective business activity in Bahia (and Brazil);

(4) Diversity of company size, type, location, demographics and

traditional under-representation in business; and (5) Timeliness of

completed application by company (including payment of participation

fee).

An applicant's partisan political activities (including political

contributions) are entirely irrelevant to the selection process.

Endorsements/Referrals

Third parties may nominate or endorse potential applicants, but

companies that are nominated or endorsed must themselves submit an

application in order to be eligible for consideration. Referrals from

political organizations will not be considered.

Costs; The fee to participate in the mission is $750. The

participation fee does not cover the participants' travel, lodging or

other personal expenses.

Authority: 15 U.S.C. 1512.

Walter Bastian,

Director, Office of Latin America and the Caribbean.

[FR Doc. 97-10030 Filed 4-17-97; 8:45 am]

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