Telecommunications Trade Mission to Rome

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Telecommunications Trade Mission to Rome

AGENCY: International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Deputy Assistant Secretary for Technology and Aerospace

Industries will lead a telecommunications trade mission to Rome, Italy

on May 11-14, 1997. The mission's goal is to provide first-hand market

information and access to key Italian government officials and

potential business partners for 7 to 15 U.S. telecom firms desiring to

expand their presence in the Italian market. New opportunities for U.S.

firms are being opened by the liberalization of Italian regulatory

policy to allow competition in telecom services and related

infrastructure.

DATES: Interested U.S. firms should apply to participate in the mission

as soon as possible. All application requirements must be completed by

April 11.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for further information

should be addressed to the Project Officer, Myles Denny-Brown, Room

4324, the Department of Commerce, Washington, D.C., 20230. Due to the

short deadline, it is recommended that replies be by fax at (202) 482-

5834 or phone at (202) 482-0398.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The criteria for selection of mission

participants are:

Relevance of a company's business line to mission goals

Timeliness of completed application by company (including

participation fee)

Minimum of seven, maximum of fifteen participating

companies in mission

Potential for business in Italy for company

Any partisan political activities (including political

contributions) of an applicant are entirely irrelevant to the selection

process.

Italy has one of the fastest growing telecommunications markets in

Europe,

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valued at $8 billion for telecom equipment and $20 billion for

telecommunications services in 1996. The Deputy Assistant Secretary and

his delegation will meet with senior officials from the Italian

Ministry of Communications to obtain detailed information on steps the

Government of Italy is taking to introduce telecommunications services

competition in its market by January 1998. Similarly the delegation

will meet with senior officials from STET/Telecom Italia to obtain in-

depth information on their privatization plans and strategic partner

search and on opportunities for U.S. telecom firms in this regard.

Finally participating U.S. firms will be introduced to qualified

Italian business partners through mission events and a series of one-

on-one meetings.

Dated: March 17, 1997.

Myles Denny-Brown,

Project Officer.

[FR Doc. 97-7207 Filed 3-20-97; 8:45 am]

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