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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[Docket No. 970702162-7162-01]

International Buyer Program (Formerly Known as the Foreign Buyer

Program); Support for Domestic Trade Shows

AGENCY: International Trade Administration, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice and Call for Applications for the FY 1999 International

Buyer Program (October 1, 1998, through September 30, 1999).

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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) 1999.

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 Commercial Service of the Commerce Department in 69 countries

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

Embassies in countries where the Commercial Service does not maintain

offices.

The Commercial Service expects to select approximately 24 shows for

FY 1999 from among applicants to the program. Successful applicants

will be required to enter into a Memorandum of

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Understanding (MOU) with the Commercial Service that sets forth the

specific actions to be performed by the show organizer and the

Commercial Service. The MOU constitutes a participation agreement

between the Commercial Service and the show organizer specifying which

services are to be rendered by the Commercial Service 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.

DATES: Applications must be received by August 25, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Export Promotion Services/International Buyer Program, The

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

of Commerce, Room 2116, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington,

DC 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, The Commercial Service, International Trade

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

Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230. Telephone: (202) 482-0481 or Fax:

(202) 482-0115.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Commercial Service, 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, 1998, and September 30, 1999. A

contribution of $6,000 is required for each show selected by the IBP

for inclusion in the FY99 program.

Under the IBP, the Commercial Service 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 Commercial Service will select approximately 24 events to

support during this 12-month period. The Commercial Service will select

those events that, in its judgment, most clearly meet the Commercial

Service's objectives and selection criteria mentioned below.

Selection indicates that the Commercial Service 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 1997 and 1998 are not

eligible for inclusion in this program in fiscal year 1999, but can be

considered in subsequent years).

General Selection Criteria: Subject to the Departmental budget and

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

judgment of the Commercial Service, 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 overseas posts 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).

(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.

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

current applications to the program.

The collection of information is approved by the Office of

Management and Budget, OMB Control Number 0625-0151. Persons are not

required to respond to the collection of information unless it displays

a currently valid OMB control number. 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 the Office of Information and

Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Paperwork

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

Authority: 15 U.S.C. 4724.

John Klinglehut,

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

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

[FR Doc. 97-18121 Filed 7-9-97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3310-25-M