03-27099. Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

DOC has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for clearance the following proposal for collection of information under the provision of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Pub. L. 104-13.

Bureau: International Trade Administration.

Title: Internet Export Finance Matchmaker.

OMB Number: 0625-0232.

Type of Request: Regular Submission.

Burden: 90 Hours.

Number of Respondents: 500.

Avg. Hours Per Response: Exporters—10 Minutes. Financial Institutions—30 Minutes.

Needs and Uses: The Office of Finance assists U.S. firms in identifying trade finance opportunities and promotes the competitiveness of U.S. financial services in international trade. The Office of Finance interacts with private financial institutions in insurance, banking, leasing, factoring, barter, and counter trade; U.S. financing agencies, such as the Export-Import Bank and the Overseas Private Investment Corporation; and multilateral development banks, such as the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, and others. To facilitate contact between exporters and financial institutions, the Office of Finance is has developed an interactive INTERNET trade finance matchmaking program to link exporters seeking trade finance with banks and other financial institutions. The information collected from financial institutions regarding the trade finance products and services they offer will be compiled into a database. An exporter will be able to electronically submit a form identifying the potential export transaction and type of financing requested. This information will be electronically matched with the financial institution(s) that meet the requirements of the exporter. After a match has been made, a message will be electronically sent to both the exporter and the financial institution containing the information about the match, and contact information for either party to initiate communication. This program is designed to implement the Department of Commerce's goal of improving access to trade financing for small business exporters.

Affected Public: Businesses or other for-profit.

Frequency: On Occasion.

Respondent's Obligation: Required to obtain or retain a benefit; voluntary.

OMB Desk Officer: David Roster, [phone].

Copies of the above information collection proposal can be obtained by calling or writing Diana Hynek, Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer, [phone], Department of Commerce, Room 6625, 14th Street, and Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20230. E-mail: [e-mail].

Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information collection should be sent to David Roster, OMB Desk Officer, Room 10202, New Executive Office Building, Washington, DC 20503 within 30 days of the publication of this notice in the Federal Register.

Dated: October 21, 2003.

Madeleine Clayton,

Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.