Commerce Trade Fair Privatization: Private Sector Organization and Management of U.S. Exhibitor Pavilions at Overseas Trade Fairs

SUMMARY: This notice sets forth a summary of the objectives and

procedures for qualified U.S. firms to apply for and assume

responsibility for recruiting, promoting, organizing, constructing, and

managing a U.S. exhibitor pavilion at various FY 1998 international

trade shows previously organized and managed by Commerce. In this

context and throughout this notice, this transfer of responsibilities

is referred to as ``privatization.'' In order to apply, interested

firms must contact Commerce for a complete set of eligibility criteria,

instructions, and an application.

DATES: These administrative procedures are effective on February 14,

1997. Applications must be received by Commerce by March 31, 1997.

ADDRESS: Trade Fair Certification Program, Room 2116, Export Promotion

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

Commerce, 14th and Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Donald Huber, Manager, Trade Fair

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

Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20230. Tel: (202) 482-2525;

Fax: (202) 482-0115. Applicants may also want to contact the U.S.

Department of Commerce industry officer, the Commercial Section of the

U.S. Embassy in the respective country that has previously organized

and managed the U.S. pavilion, and/or the trade fair proprietor about

actual show dates, event specifics and logistics.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: As part of its focus to increase exports,

the National Export Strategy, dated September 30, 1993, calls for the

Administration to reduce the number of trade events the U.S. Government

(USG) organizes, encourage more private sector participation in the

trade event process, and invite qualified private sector firms to bid

for those events they desire to handle. While this strategy refers to

all USG-organized events, this notice is concerned only with the

privatization of the International Trade Administration events listed

in this notice. Private sector organizers in this privatization process

assume the responsibilities of organizing and managing a U.S. pavilion

in designated overseas trade fairs, in lieu of Commerce. As part of

this privatization process, those firms selected to organize, recruit,

and manage a show listed in this notice will also receive, on a one-

time basis, certification for the show under the Trade Fair

Certification Program. Subsequent certification must be applied for on

an annual basis and will be open to any organizer. Certification

assures Commerce's recognition and support of these private sector

efforts.

Commerce does not provide any financial assistance to organizers or

to exhibitors at these shows. As with the existing Trade Fair

Certification Program, the selected organizer contributes $1,500 to

assist in defraying Commerce expenses incurred in supporting the

organizer and exhibitors.

Organizers selected by Commerce are not representatives of the

Department or the U.S. Government and are prohibited from making

statements to that effect.

Principal requirements and criteria of the privatization process

are summarized below:

The applicant must be a U.S. person. A ``U.S. person''

means a U.S. citizen, or an entity (such as a corporation, partnership,

association or other entity) created under the laws of the United

States or of any state, or the U.S. branch or agent of a foreign

person. An officer of an American Chamber of Commerce, located in the

country, is eligible to submit an application. Such an applicant must

meet the same criteria and perform the same requirements as a U.S.

person. Applications will not be accepted from other foreign-based

persons or entities.

Formation of a U.S. pavilion is required.

In order to qualify, all applications must be received by

March 31, 1997.

The selected U.S. pavilion organizer must offer U.S. firms

that participated in the last show, space in the upcoming show that is

at least equivalent in size, quality, and location.

Production of a catalog of U.S. exhibitors is required.

The selected pavilion organizer must recruit a minimum

number of exhibitors. This number will vary according to the specific

event.

Selected organizers must undertake a comprehensive U.S.

exhibitor recruitment campaign, including measures to target and

recruit small, medium size, and new-to-market firms.

Selected organizers are required to send a representative

to the show for its duration and staff an office or booth within the

show.

Trade association applicants cannot restrict their U.S.

exhibitor recruitment campaign or exhibitor participation to

association members only. Such applicants must acknowledge and agree to

this condition.

Commerce cannot guarantee that the foreign trade fair

proprietor will agree to privatization of the U.S. pavilion in the

subject event. Commerce will assist the selected U.S. pavilion

organizer in its discussions with the foreign event proprietor, but it

is the foreign event proprietor's decision to grant the necessary lease

for exhibit space.

Within 60 days from the date of being notified of

selection, the U.S. pavilion organizer must submit the necessary lease

documentation.

Pavilion organizers should note that the foreign event

proprietor may opt to select its own agent in advance of Commerce's

selection of a U.S. pavilion organizer. In such cases, Commerce will

continue to offer its support to the U.S. pavilion organizer and event,

but via the standard Trade Fair Certification Program, as prescribed in

the Federal Register notice dated April 30, 1993, 58 FR 26116.

Prior to selection of the U.S. pavilion organizer,

Commerce reserves the right to withdraw an event from the privatization

process if circumstances warrant Commerce's retention of the event.

Also, following selection of the U.S. pavilion organizer, Commerce may

withdraw its support of the U.S. pavilion organizer if Commerce

determines that the U.S. pavilion organizer has not complied with the

provisions outlined in this notice or in the application materials and

process. Commerce also retains the option to directly organize and

manage a pavilion of exhibitors under these circumstances.

While the foreign event proprietor will be encouraged to

offer the selected U.S. pavilion organizer leased space under the same

conditions and rates that would be offered to Commerce, Commerce cannot

guarantee this will be the case.

Commerce seeks applications from qualified firms, associations, or

the local American Chamber of Commerce abroad to assume U.S. pavilion

recruitment, promotion, organization and management functions in the

following shows. Show name, minimum number of exhibitors to be

recruited, location,

[[Page 7127]]

month/year and basic industry(s) are shown below. In order to apply,

interested firms must contact Commerce for a complete set of

eligibility criteria, instructions, and an application. Applications

must be received by Commerce by March 31, 1997. The collection of

information is approved by the Office of Management and Budget, OMB

Control Number 0625-0222. Persons are not required to respond to the

collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB

control number.

Shows for Privatization in FY 1998 and 1st Qtr FY 1999

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Min

Event name exb. Location Date Industries

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1. Bucharest Int'l Fair......... 25 Bucharest, Romania...... Oct. 97............ Indust eqpmt/consumer

goods.

2. Comdex/Pacific Rim........... 10 Vancouver, Canada....... Jan. 98............ Computers/periph/

services.

3. Canadian Hrdwr/Hswr/Home..... 10 Toronto, Canada......... Feb. 98............ Consumer goods.

4. Wisitex '98 #................ 20 New Delhi, India........ Feb. 98............ Procs cntrls/telcom/

electronic.

5. Visit USA.................... 20 Sao Paulo, Brazil....... Mar. 98............ Tourism products/

services.

6. Canadian Int'l Auto Show #... 10 Toronto, Canada......... Apr. 98............ Parts/accessories/rpr

eqpmt.

7. Forest Expo '98.............. 10 Pr. George, Canada...... May 98............. Log&mill eqpmt/pulp/

mgmt.

8. Expomin 98................... 200 Santiago, Chile......... May 98............. Mining/extraction eqpmt.

9. Plastex '98.................. 10 Toronto, Canada......... May 98............. Plastic machs/molds/

tech.

10. National Petroleum Show..... 15 Calgary, Canada......... Jun. 98............ Oil&gas eqpmt/services.

11. Zagreb Fall Fair............ 10 Zagreb, Croatia......... Sep. 98............ consumr good/indust

mach.

12. Canadian High Technology.... 10 Toronto, Canada......... Sep. 98............ Electron compnts/test

eqpmt.

13. Euronaval................... 20 Paris, France *......... Oct. 98............ Defense industry.

14. Pollutec.................... 15 Lyon, France *.......... Oct. 98............ Pollution control

eqpmnt.

15. Jeddah Motor Show........... 10 Jeddah, SA *............ Nov. 98............ Vehicles/parts/repr

eqpmt.

16. Construct Canada............ 10 Toronto, Canada *....... Dec. 98............ Const eqpmt/matrls/

services.

17. Aero India '98.............. 15 Bangalore, India *...... Dec. 98............ Aircraft industry.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bienniel Show.

FY 1999 Show.

Dated: February 7, 1997.

Mary Fran Kirchner,

Chairman, ITA Trade Events Board.

[FR Doc. 97-3734 Filed 2-13-97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510-FP-P