[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 184 (Thursday, September 22, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58772-58774]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-24289]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
Safety & Security Trade Mission; Mexico City and Monterrey,
Mexico
AGENCY: International Trade Administration.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Mission Description
The United States Department of Commerce, International Trade
Administration, U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service (CS) is organizing
an executive-led Safety and Security trade mission to Mexico City and
Monterrey, Mexico, for January 30-February 2, 2012. This mission is
intended to focus on a variety of U.S. industry and service providers,
particularly those related to residential and industrial facility
safety/security, personal protection, logistics and supply chain
protection, law enforcement and public security. This mission
specifically excludes munitions and items intended for military and
defense purposes.
The mission will introduce mission participants to end-users and
prospective partners whose needs and capabilities are targeted to the
respective U.S. participant's strengths. Participating in an official
U.S. industry delegation, rather than traveling to Mexico
independently, will enhance the companies' ability to secure meetings
with potential partners and buyers. The mission will include meetings
with Federal, state and local government representatives; Mexican
customs officials; airport and transportation authorities; police and
law enforcement officials; and private sector industrial groups.
Commercial Setting
The nearly $4 billion in annual trade between the United States and
Mexico is fueled in large part by industrial manufacturing centers
located throughout northern and central Mexico, which is also supported
by an ever-growing national cargo transportation industry. With growing
concerns over drug cartel related violence, particularly along the
border, U.S. and Mexican companies alike have taken steps to protect
their business investments, specifically in terms of safety and
security of personnel, physical assets and supply chain logistics.
Public and private sector investment in safety and security services
and equipment is growing, particularly as companies are taking extra
measures to ensure protection for their employees, such as the use of
private security companies and armored vehicles. For a variety of
products and services related to safety and security, U.S. companies
can expect excellent sales prospects in both the public and private
sectors of the Mexican market.
Given its dominance in this sector, Mexico City is the main stop on
the mission. Many of the country's top distributors are based in this
market, as well as procurement decision makers at the Federal level.
The timing of this mission will allow new to market companies the
chance to identify sales representatives and distributors in time for
ExpoSeguridad (April 24-26, 2012), Mexico's leading security trade
show. The second stop of this trade mission will be Monterrey, Mexico's
northern financial and manufacturing heartland. Mexico's largest
industrial groups are headquartered in Monterrey, including
manufacturers of beer, steel, glass, and cement, as well as national
manufacturing industries such as automotive, electronics, household
goods and software. The corporate response to security threats in
Monterrey, as in other regions, has been increased investment in safety
and security solutions to protect company assets, particularly
employees, both within the plant as well as beyond facility perimeters.
Best Prospects: Opportunities in the public security and personal
protection markets could include protective gear (bullet-proof vests
and clothing), forensics, trace detection equipment, armoring,
specialty vehicles, metal detectors, non-intrusive scanning equipment,
mobile command centers and communications equipment, etc. Residential
and corporate hot prospects include alarm systems, CCTV and
surveillance, perimeter protection, locks and safes, home automation
and fire protection, and ``safe room'' design and construction. For the
industrial manufacturing sector, best prospects would include
protective clothing (such as gloves, goggles, hazmat suits, safety
footwear, anti-static protection, and particulate respirators), as well
as facilities access controls, surveillance equipment, hazardous
materials handling, logistics protection and supply chain tracking
(RFID, GPS). Training and capacity building services (e.g. security
guards, drivers) are in high demand for all sub-sectors.
Mission Goals
The short term goals of the Safety & Security Trade Mission to
Mexico are, (1) To introduce U.S. companies to potential end-users,
joint-venture partners and other industry representatives in Mexico
City, Monterrey, and their surrounding areas, and (2) to introduce U.S.
companies to the industry leaders and government officials in Mexico
City and Monterrey to learn about various opportunities in the safety
and security industries.
Mission Scenario
Upon arrival in Mexico City on January 30, participants will check
into the hotel, and participate in a commercial briefing on Central
Mexico, followed by a networking welcome reception at the residence of
the U.S. Ambassador, where they will meet key government and industry
contacts in the Mexico City area. The morning of January 31 begins with
a breakfast event to present the U.S. trade mission companies to a wide
audience, including Federal/state/municipal government and law
enforcement representatives from several states and cities across
Central Mexico, as well as airport operators and transportation
authorities, industrial manufacturing groups, and other potential
buyers and end-users. The event will also feature short technical
presentations from national security experts, as well as an update on
the Merida Initiative by U.S. Embassy representatives. The morning
event concludes with one-on-one matchmaking at the hotel with invited
[[Page 58773]]
guests from outside of Mexico City, followed by additional appointments
in and around Mexico City throughout the remainder of the day. That
evening, mission participants have the option of participating in a no-
host dinner at a local restaurant--group transportation will be
provided.
On February 1, participants will depart Mexico City and travel to
Monterrey, where they will be welcomed with a commercial briefing
focused on the unique market that is Northern Mexico and the border
region, followed by a networking reception with key contacts at the
Consul General's official residence. Gold Key matchmaking appointments
will be scheduled throughout the day on February 2, primarily at the
hotel or other centralized location, to ensure participant security.
The following items are included in the price of the trade mission:
Pre-travel webinar briefing, covering Mexican business
practices and security;
National promotion of trade mission, including wide
circulation of printed company directory;
Welcome reception at Ambassador's residence in Mexico City
on January 30;
Continental breakfast during the Mexico City event on
January 31;
Networking reception with industry contacts in Monterrey
on February 1;
Group transportation to all receptions, and optional no-
host dinner in Mexico City;
Preferential hotel rates in Mexico City and Monterrey;
Pre-scheduled meetings with potential partners,
distributors, end users, or local industry contacts in Mexico City,
Monterrey and surrounding cities;
A designated escort/translator to provide assistance
during scheduled matchmaking meetings.
Proposed Timetable
The mission program will begin on the evening of Monday, January
30, 2012, and continue through the evening of February 2, 2012.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
January 30................................ Mexico City.
Commercial Briefing: Central
Mexico market, Federal/
state government
procurement.
Welcome reception at
Ambassador's Residence.
January 31................................ Mexico City.
Breakfast Event with
Federal, State and Local
Representatives.
One-on-one meetings with
potential clients,
distributors/
representatives.
Group dinner at local
restaurant (no host).
February 1................................ Mexico City/Monterrey.
Breakfast (no host).
Depart Mexico City.
Arrival/Hotel check-in
Monterrey.
Evening Reception at Consul
General's Residence.
February 2................................ Monterrey.
Breakfast (no host).
Commercial Briefing:
Northern Mexico market,
industrial security, border
business.
Gold Key matchmaking
meetings with potential
clients, distributors/
representatives.
Late departure Monterrey or
overnight stay
(recommended).
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Participation Requirements
All parties interested in participating in the Safety & Security
Trade Mission to Mexico must complete and submit an application for
consideration by U.S. Department of Commerce. All applicants will be
evaluated on their ability to meet certain conditions and to satisfy
the selection criteria as outlined below. This mission has a goal of a
minimum of 15 and a maximum of 20 companies to be selected to
participate in the mission from the applicant pool. U.S. companies
already doing business in Mexico as well as U.S. companies seeking to
enter the market for the first time are encouraged to 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 participation fee will be US $ 3,500
for large firms and $3,000 for a small or medium-sized enterprise
(SME).\1\ The fee for each additional firm representative (large firm
or SME) is $300. Expenses for air travel (to Mexico City, Monterrey,
and return), lodging, meals and incidentals will be the responsibility
of each mission participant.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ An SME is defined as a firm with 500 or fewer employees or
that otherwise qualifies as a small business under SBA regulations
(see http://www.sba.gov/services/contracting opportunities/
sizestandardstopics/index.html). Parent companies, affiliates, and
subsidiaries will be considered when determining business size. The
dual pricing reflects the Commercial Service's user fee schedule
that became effective May 1, 2008 (see http://www.export.gov/newsletter/march2008/initiatives.html for additional information).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 fifty-one percent U.S. content.
Selection Criteria for Participation
Selection will be based on the following criteria:
Suitability of a company's products or services to the
mission's goals.
Applicant's potential for business in Mexico, including
likelihood of exports resulting from the trade mission.
Consistency of the applicant's goals and objectives with
the stated scope of the trade mission (i.e., the sectors indicated in
the mission description).
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 publication in the Federal Register, posting on the Commerce
Department trade mission calendar (http://export.gov/trademissions/eg_main_023185.asp) and other Internet Web sites, press releases to
general and trade media, direct mail, industry trade associations and
other multiplier groups, and publicity at industry meetings, symposia,
conferences, and trade shows.
Recruitment for the mission will begin immediately and conclude no
later than November 15, 2011. CS Mexico will review all applications
immediately after the deadline. We will inform applicants of selection
decisions as soon as possible after November 15, 2011. Applications
received after that
[[Page 58774]]
date will be considered only if space and scheduling constraints
permit.
Contacts
U.S. Commercial Service Mexico Contacts
Ms. Dinah McDougall, Commercial Officer, U.S. Commercial Service
Mexico--Mexico City, Tel: (011-52-55) 5140-2620,
[email protected].
Ms. Silvia Cardenas, Commercial Specialist, U.S. Commercial Service
Mexico--Mexico City, Tel: (011-52-55) 5140-2670,
[email protected].
Mr. John Howell, Commercial Officer, U.S. Commercial Service Mexico--
Monterrey, Tel: (011-52-81) 8047-3223, [email protected].
Mr. Mario Vida[ntilde]a, Commercial Specialist, U.S. Commercial Service
Mexico--Monterrey, Tel: (011-52-81) 8047-3118, [email protected].
Elnora Moye,
Commercial Service Trade Mission Program, U.S. Department of Commerce.
[FR Doc. 2011-24289 Filed 9-21-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-FP-P