Secretarial Business Development Mission to Canada.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

Secretarial Business Development Mission to Canada.

AGENCY: International Trade Administration, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice serves to inform the public of a Secretarial

Business Development Mission to Canada, August 3-7, 1997 (``the

mission'' or ``trade mission'') and the opportunity to apply for

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

participation criteria for the mission; and requests applications.

DATES: Applications should be submitted to Cheryl Bruner by Monday,

June 30, 1997, in order to ensure sufficient time to obtain in-country

appointments for applicants selected to participate in the mission.

Applications received after that date will be considered only if space

and scheduling constraints permit. The mission to Canada is scheduled

August 3-7, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Request for and submission of applications--Applications are

available from: Cheryl Bruner, Director of the Office of Business

Liaison or Jennifer Johnson at 202-482-1360 or via

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facsimile at 202-482-4054. Numbers listed in this notice are not toll-

free. The Original of the required application materials should be sent

to Cheryl Bruner as noted above. Applications sent by facsimile must be

immediately followed by submission of the original application to Ms.

Bruner at the following address: Office of Business Liaison, Room 5062,

U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th and Constitution, N.W., Washington,

D.C. 20230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cheryl Bruner or Jennifer Johnson at

202-482-1360. Information is also available via the International Trade

Administration's (ITA) Internet home page at ``http://www.ita.doc.gov/

uscs/doctm''.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Trade Mission Description

Secretary of Commerce, William M. Daley, will lead a trade mission

to Canada in August with a U.S. business delegation. The mission to

Canada will include stops in Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, and possibly

Vancouver. The overall focus of the trip will be to promote expanded

trade opportunities for U.S. technology firms afforded under the North

American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). With stops in Montreal, Ottawa,

Toronto and possibly Vancouver, the Secretary's mission will cover the

largest and most dynamic markets for U.S. technology products in Canada

focusing on commercial opportunities for small and medium-sized U.S.

firms. Specific sectors to be highlighted include computer software,

computers and peripherals, electronic components, aerospace equipment,

pollution control equipment, telecommunications equipment and related

services, all of which are included in Canada's key growth sectors for

U.S. products over the next 12 months. The Commerce Department's U.S.

and Foreign Commercial Service will provide logistical support for

these activities at each stop. The itinerary for the Canada Mission

will be as follows:

August 3 (Sun)--Arrive Montreal

August 4 (Mon)--Montreal

August 5 (Tues)--Leave Montreal

Arrive/Depart Ottawa

Arrive Toronto

August 6 (Wed)--Toronto

Depart Toronto

August 7 (Thurs)--Vancouver (possible business delegation

participation) Mission Concludes

The goals for the mission are:

Increase sales of U.S. products and services to Canada

with focus in the areas of computers, software and peripherals;

electronic components; pollution control equipment, telecommunications

equipment and related services;

Seek resolution of outstanding bilateral commercial issues

where appropriate, discuss multilateral issues of mutual interest and

advocate U.S. interests regarding specific government procurements;

Highlight opportunities for U.S. technology exports to

America's largest and most accessible trading partner, particularly for

the U.S. Small and Medium Size Enterprises (SME);

Introduce participating U.S. companies to Canadian federal

and provincial leaders and to representatives of U.S. firms in Canada;

Promote U.S.-Canadian cooperation in pursuing strategic

alliance opportunities in third-countries leading to the expansion of

U.S. exports; and

Highlight achievements under NAFTA and this

Administration's commitment to its continued implementation.

A full description of the mission is set forth in the Mission

Statement, which is available from Cheryl Bruner, Director of the

Office of Business Liaison, at the above address.

Trade Mission Participation Criteria

The recruitment and selection of private sector participants in the

mission will be conducted according to the Statement of Policy

Governing Department of Commerce Overseas Trade Missions announced by

Secretary Daley on March 3, 1997 and reflected herein. Company

representatives should be senior level executives appropriate to the

goals of the mission with authority to execute sales and other

marketing agreements. Company participation will be determined on the

basis of:

Consistency of the company's goals with the scope and

desired outcome of the mission as described herein;

Relevance of a company's business line to the plan for the

mission;

Past, present and prospective business activity in Canada;

Diversity of company size, type, location, demographics

and traditional under-representation in business.

An applicant's partisan political activities (including political

contributions) are irrelevant to the selection process. An interested

party must fill out an application to be considered for participation

in the mission.

Endorsements/Referrals

Third parties may nominate or endorse potential applicants, but

companies that are nominated or endorsed must themselves submit an

application to be eligible for consideration. Referrals from political

organizations will not be considered.

Costs

The fees to participate in the mission have not yet been

determined, and will be based on the number of participants and

participation in all three, or possibly four stops. The fees will not

cover travel, lodging, or other personal expenses.

Authority: 15 U.S.C. 1512.

Dated: June 10, 1997.

Anita K. Blackman,

Acting Regional Director, Office of International Operations-Western

Hemisphere, U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service.

[FR Doc. 97-15644 Filed 6-13-97; 8:45 am]

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