International Buyer Program; Support for Domestic Trade Shows

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

International Buyer Program; Support for Domestic Trade Shows

AGENCY: International Trade Administration, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice and Call for Applications for the FY 2000 International

Buyer Program (October 1, 1999 through September 30, 2000).

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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 is for the International Buyer Program for Fiscal Year 2000.

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 such as export counseling and market analysis to U.S.

companies interested in exporting. 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 United States and Foreign Commercial Service (hereinafter

referred to as the Commercial Service) in 70 countries representing

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

countries where the Commercial Service does not maintain offices. The

Department expects to select approximately 24 shows for FY2000 from

among applicants to the program. Shows selected for the International

Buyer Program will provide a venue for U.S. companies interested in

expanding their sales into international markets. Successful applicants

will be required to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that

sets forth the specific actions to be performed by the show organizer

and the DOC. The MOU constitutes an agreement between the

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DOC and the show organizer specifying which services are to be rendered

by DOC 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. The

services to be rendered by DOC will be carried out by the Commercial

Service.

DATES: Applications must be received on or before August 10, 1998.

Contributions are for shows selected and promoted during the October 1,

1999 and September 30, 2000, period.

ADDRESSES: Export Promotion Services/International Buyer Program,

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

of Commerce, 14th & Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230.

Telephone: (202) 482-0146 (Facsimile applications will not be

accepted).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jim Boney, Product Manager,

International Buyer Program, Room 2116, Export Promotion Services, U.S.

and Foreign Commercial Service, International Trade Administration,

U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th & Constitution Avenue, NW.,

Washington, DC 20230. Telephone (202) 482-0146 or Fax: (202) 482-0115.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Commercial Service is accepting

applications for the International Buyer Program (IBP) for events

taking place between October 1, 1999 and September 30, 2000. A

contribution of $6,000 for shows of five days or less, or $8,000 for

shows more than five days in duration is required for the shows

selected.

Under the IBP, the Commercial Service seeks to bring international

buyers together with U.S. firms by selecting and promoting in

international markets domestic trade shows in industries with high

export potential. 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 objective and selection criteria mentioned below.

Selection indicates that the Department has found the event to be a

leading international trade show appropriate for participation by U.S.

exporting firms and 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 activities.

Non-selection should not be viewed as a finding 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 1998 and 1999 are not eligible

for inclusion in this program in fiscal year 2000, but can be

considered in subsequent years.).

The Office of Management and Budget has approved the information

collection requirements of the application to this program under the

provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980 (44 U.S.C. 2501 et

seq.) (OMB control no. 0625-0151).

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 to the Office of Information and

Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Paperwork

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

General Selection Criteria

Subject to Departmental budget and resource constraints, those

events will be selected that, in the judgment of the Department, 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

domestic and international commercial officers 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 Services of the United States of

America and corresponds to marketing opportunities as identified by the

posts in their Country Commercial Guides (e.g. best prospect lists).

Previous international attendance at the show may be used as an

indicator.

(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

United States businesses as defined in 15 U.S.C. 4724 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 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 are in the stature 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 (see ``For Further Information on When, Where,

and How to apply''). Past experience in the IBP will be taken into

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account in evaluating current applications to the program.

Legal Authority

The Commercial Service has the legal authority to enter into the

above-mentioned memorandum of understanding with the show organizer

under the provisions of the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange

Act of 1961, as amended (22 U.S.C. 2455(f)). The statutory authority

for the Commercial Service to conduct the International Buyer Program

is 15 U.S.C. 4724.

John Klingelhut,

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

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

[FR Doc. 98-16764 Filed 6-23-98; 8:45 am]

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