2013-05379. Trade Mission to Egypt and Kuwait

AGENCY:

International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.

ACTION:

Replacement Notice.

SUMMARY:

The United States Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration, U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service is replacing the Notice regarding the Trade Mission to Egypt April 14-16, 2013, published at 78 FR 7752, February 4, 2013. The effect of this notice is to expand the mission eligibility to companies in all sectors and/or industries. All companies that have applied to this mission to date, and all companies that apply by March 14, 2013 will be considered.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

In June 2012 the Department of Commerce initiated recruitment for participation in the U.S. Trade Mission to Egypt and Kuwait March 10-14, 2013, published at 77 FR 33439, June 6, 2012. In 77 FR 71777, December 4, 2012, the Department of Commerce announced that the application deadline for the mission was extended until January 18, 2013. Since then, due to unforeseen circumstances, the Kuwait portion of the mission has been cancelled, and Trade Mission to Egypt will be April 14 to 16 and the application deadline March 14. Interested firms that have not already submitted an application are encouraged to apply. Applications will be accepted after the deadline only to the extent that space remains and scheduling constraints permit.

Replacement

The Trade Mission to Egypt and Kuwait is replaced to read as follows:

Mission Description

The U.S. Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration, U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service is organizing a Trade Mission to Cairo, Egypt to explore opportunities in all industries.

Led by a senior executive of the Department of Commerce or other U.S. Government agency, the trade mission will include one-on-one business appointments with pre-screened potential buyers, agents, distributors and joint venture partners; meetings with national and regional government officials, chambers of commerce, and business groups; and networking receptions for companies and trade associations representing companies interested in expansion into the North African and Middle Eastern markets. Meetings will be offered with government authorities that can address questions about policies, tariff rates, incentives, grid interconnection, regulation, etc.

The mission will help participating firms and trade associations gain market insights, make industry contacts, solidify business strategies, and advance specific projects, with the goal of increasing U.S. exports to Egypt. Participating in an official U.S. industry delegation, rather than traveling to Egypt on their own, will enhance the companies' ability to secure meetings in Egypt.

Commercial Setting

Egypt is strategically located at the gateway of trade for Africa and the Middle East. It is a prime location for the transit of goods, as well as a key destination for American companies seeking to do business in the region.

Egypt has experienced profound political changes over the past year. On February 11, 2011, President Hosni Mubarak's 30-year rule came to an end. In January 2012, Egypt seated its first freely and fairly elected parliament, and has held a Presidential election. In the meantime, the United States remains committed to a strong partnership with Egypt.

As the largest Arab country with a population of 90 million, Egypt is the fourth largest export market for U.S. products and services in the Middle East. The United States is Egypt's largest bilateral trading partner, and the second largest investor. In 2011, bilateral trade reached $8.2 billion. The gross domestic product (GDP) grew over five percent from 2009 to 2010. According to Business Monitor International's forecasts, Egypt's real GDP is expanding 2.1% in FY2011/12 and projected to grow 4.9% in FY2012/13 (Egypt's fiscal year is July through June). Egyptian law requires that foreign companies retain Egyptian commercial agents for public tenders, but they may work directly with private companies. Most foreign companies have found it beneficial, however, to engage a local agent for private sector transactions as well because of their familiarity of the language, law and general business practices. Based on geographical location or product basis, a firm can appoint multiple agents in Egypt to further enhance its success.

Mission Goals

The goal of the trade mission is to provide U.S. participants with first-hand market information, access to government decision makers as appropriate and one-on-one meetings with business contacts, including potential agents, distributors and partners, so they can position themselves to enter or expand their presence in the Egypt.

Mission Scenario

Cairo is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in Africa. The business week runs from Sunday through Thursday.

Proposed Timetable

Saturday	13 April	Arrival in Cairo.
Sunday	14 April	Orientation and market briefings, business luncheon with American Chamber of Commerce and U.S. Ambassador's networking reception.
Monday	15 April	One-on-one business appointments; business lunch—General Authority For Investment and Free Zones presentation on major public-private partnership projects; group dinner.
Tuesday	16 April	One-on-one business appointments.

Participation Requirements

All parties interested in participating in the Trade Mission to Egypt must complete and submit an application package for consideration by the U.S. Department of Commerce. All applicants will be evaluated on their ability to meet certain conditions and best satisfy the selection criteria as outlined below. A minimum of 15 U.S. companies and/or trade associations and maximum of 20 companies and/or trade associations will be selected to participate in the mission from the applicant pool. U.S. companies or trade associations already doing business with Egypt, as well as U.S. companies or trade associations seeking to enter these countries for the first time may apply.

Fees and Expenses

After a company has been selected to participate on the mission, a payment to the U.S. Department of Commerce in the form of a participation fee is required. The fee for one representative to participate in the mission is $1400 for an SME and $2100 for large firms or trade associations. The fee for each additional company or association representative (SME or large firm) is $400. Expenses for travel, lodging, most meals, interpreters, and incidentals are the responsibility of each mission participant. Participants may be able to take advantage of Embassy rates for hotel rooms.

Conditions for Participation

• An applicant must submit a completed and signed mission application and supplemental application materials, including adequate information on the company's products and/or services, primary market objectives, and goals for participation. If the U.S. Department of Commerce receives an incomplete application, the Department may reject the application, request additional information, or take the lack of information into account when evaluating the applications.
• Each applicant must also certify that the products and services it seeks to export through the mission are either produced in the United States, or, if not, marketed under the name of a U.S. firm and have at least 51 percent U.S. content. In the case of a trade association or trade organization, the applicant must certify that, for each company to be represented by the trade association or trade organization, the products and services the represented company seeks to export are either produced in the United States, or, if not, marketed under the name of a U.S. firm and have at least fifty-one percent U.S. content.

Selection Criteria for Participation

Selection will be based on the following criteria:

• Suitability of the company's (or, in the case of a trade association or trade organization, represented companies') products or services to the targeted markets
• Applicant's (or, in the case of a trade association or trade organization, represented companies') potential for business in the target markets, including likelihood of exports resulting from the mission
• Consistency of the applicant's goals and objectives with the stated scope of the mission

Referrals from political organizations and any documents containing references to partisan political activities (including political contributions) will be removed from an applicant's submission and not considered during the selection process.

Timeframe for Recruitment and Applications

Mission recruitment will be conducted in an open and public manner, including posting Export.gov—and other Internet Web sites; publication in trade publications and association newsletters; direct outreach to the Department's clients; posting in the Federal Register; and announcements at industry meetings, symposia, conferences, and trade shows.

Recruitment for the mission will begin January 28, 2013 and conclude no later than March 14, 2013. The U.S. Department of Commerce will review applications and make selection decisions on a rolling basis until the maximum of twenty participants is reached. We will inform all applicants of selection decisions as soon as possible after the applications are reviewed. Applications received after the March 14 deadline will be considered only if space and scheduling constraints permit.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

U.S. Commercial Service, Cairo, Egypt, Dennis Simmons, Deputy Senior Commercial Officer, U.S. Commercial Service, Embassy of the United States of America, Email: [e-mail]., Tel: [phone].

U.S. Commercial Service, Washington, DC, Anne Novak, U.S. Commercial Service, Washington, DC, Tel: [phone], Email: [e-mail].

Elnora Moye,

Trade Program Assistant.