[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 119 (Wednesday, June 19, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31384-31385]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-15587]
[[Page 31383]]
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Part IX
Department of Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
International Trade Administration
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International Buyer Program (Formerly Known as the Foreign Buyer
Program); Support for Domestic Trade Shows; Notice
Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 119 / Wednesday, June 19, 1996 /
Notices
[[Page 31384]]
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
[Docket Number 960611170-6170-01]
RIN 0625-XX07
International Buyer Program (Formerly Known as the Foreign Buyer
Program); Support for Domestic Trade Shows
AGENCY: International Trade Administration, Commerce.
ACTION: Notice and Call for Applications for the FY 1998 International
Buyer Program (October 1, 1997, through September 30, 1998).
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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 in the International Buyer Program for Fiscal Year (FY) 1998.
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 to U.S. companies interested in exporting such as export
counseling and market analysis. 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 Commerce Department's Commercial Service of the United States of
America (formerly referred to as United States and Foreign Commercial
Service) in 70 countries representing America's major trading partners,
and also in U.S. Embassies in countries where the Commercial Service of
the United States of America does not maintain offices.
The Department expects to select approximately 22 shows for FY 1998
from among applicants to the program. Shows selected for the
International Buyer Program will provide an avenue 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 a
participation agreement between the 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 of the United States of
America unless otherwise indicated.
DATES: Applications must be received by August 5, 1996. A contribution
of $6,000 for shows of five days or less in duration is required. For
shows of more than five days in duration or with multiple International
Business Centers (IBC's) the contribution is $8,000. Contributions are
for shows selected by the IBP for inclusion in the FY 1998 program.
ADDRESSES: Export Promotion Services/International Buyer Program,
Commercial Service of the United States of America, International Trade
Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, Room 2116, 14th and
Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20230. Telephone: (202)
482-0481 (Facsimile applications will not be accepted.)
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON WHEN, WHERE, AND HOW TO APPLY: 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 and
Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20230. Telephone: (202)
482-0148 or Fax: (202) 482-0115.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The International Trade Administration (ITA)
of the U.S. Department of Commerce is accepting applications for the
International Buyer Program (IBP) for events taking place between
October 1, 1997, and September 30, 1998.
Under the IBP, the Department seeks to bring international buyers
together with U.S. firms by selecting domestic trade shows in
industries with high export potential and promoting them in
international markets. 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 Department will select approximately 22 events to support
during this 12-month period. The Department will select those events
that, in its judgment, most clearly meet the Department's objectives
and selection criteria mentioned below.
Selection indicates that the Department has found the event to be a
leading domestic trade show appropriate for 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 Program activities. Non-selection should not be viewed as an
indication 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 1996 and 1997 are not eligible
for inclusion in this program in fiscal year 1998, but can be
considered in subsequent years). Notwithstanding any other provision of
the law, no person is required to respond to, nor shall any person be
subject to a penalty for failure to comply with a collection of
information, subject to the requirements of the PRA, unless that
collection of information displays a currently valid OMB Control
Number.
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. 3501 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, D.C. 20230 and to the Office of Information and
Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Paperwork
Reduction Project (0625-0151), Washington, D.C. 20503.
General Selection Criteria
Subject to Departmental budget and resource constraints, those
events will
[[Page 31385]]
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
Service of the United States of America and corresponds to marketing
opportunities as identified by the posts in their Country Commercial
Guides (e.g. best prospects 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 U.S. firms 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 a 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 conform to the expected
norms 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 account in evaluating current applications to the program.
Authority: The statutory authority allowing the Department to
provide the type of assistance contemplated under the International
Buyer Program is 15 U.S.C. 4724.
John Klinglehut,
Deputy Director, Office of Public/Private Initiatives, The Commercial
Services of the United States, International Trade Administration, U.S.
Department of Commerce.
[FR Doc. 96-15587 Filed 6-18-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-FP-P
