[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 100 (Friday, May 23, 1997)] [Notices] [Pages 28447-28448] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 97-13662] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE International Trade Administration Business Development Mission to Belfast and Londonderry (Derry), Northern Ireland, October 13-17, 1997 AGENCY: International Trade Administration, Commerce. ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: This notice serves to inform the public of a trade and investment mission to Belfast and Londonderry, Northern Ireland to be held October 13-17, 1997; provides interested U.S. firms with the opportunity to submit an application to participate in the mission; sets forth objectives, procedures, and selection review criteria for the mission; and requests applications. The recruitment and selection of private sector participants in the mission will be conducted in accordance with the Statement of Policy Governing Department of Commerce Overseas Trade Missions announced by Secretary Daley on March 3, 1997 and reflected herein. DATES: Applications should be received by July 30, 1997. The Mission is scheduled for October 13-17, 1997. Applications received after that date will be considered only if space and scheduling constraints permit. ADDRESSES: Requests for and submission of applications: Applications are available from Virginia Manuel, Senior Advisor and Project Manager, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th and Constitution Avenue, N.W., Room 3868, telephone: 202-482-5853 and facsimile: 202-482-5444, Washington, D.C. 20230. An original and two copies of the required application materials should be sent to the Project Manager at the above address. Applications sent by facsimile must be immediately followed by submission of the original application. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Mission Description The U.S. Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration (ITA) will organize a business development mission to Northern Ireland (NI), October 13-17, 1997. The delegation, which will be led by a senior Departmental official, will be comprised [[Page 28448]] of 10-15 U.S. company executives from three industry sectors: electronics, environmental technologies, and medical technologies. The business purpose of the mission is the promotion of U.S. trade and investment interests in Northern Ireland, and in the European Union. The present state of the Northern Ireland economy and the ready access to the $7.8 trillion European market provides strong and growing markets for U.S. products and services. The itinerary of the mission will include stops in Belfast and Londonderry (Derry), the largest and second largest cities, respectively, and the two major industrial centers in Northern Ireland. The private sector participants will be offered: (1) One-on-one pre-screened business appointments; (2) expert market briefings with senior U.K. (Northern Ireland) Government officials and development authorities; (3) site visits to U.S. companies operating in Northern Ireland; and, (4) logistical support, transportation in Belfast and Londonderry, and ground tours of the two cities. Mission Goals The goals of the mission are to increase U.S. exports and to promote trade and investment in Northern Ireland through strategic alliances, joint ventures, and other partnerships between U.S. and Northern Ireland companies. Participation Criteria A maximum of 15 companies will be selected to participate in the mission. Participants must fall into one of the three sectors of environmental technologies, medical technologies, and electronics identified for the mission, and must be U.S. companies providing U.S. origin goods and/or services that are export-ready. Participant executives ideally will be at the level of president or vice president. Each firm participating in this mission will have been recruited by U.S. DOC in Washington and reviewed by our U.S. Embassy in London, our commercial representative in Belfast, and Northern Ireland's Industrial Development Board (IDB) for: (1) Consistency of the company's goals with the scope, nature and desired outcome of the mission (as described herein); (2) relevance of the company's sector to the mission; (3) past, present, or prospective business activity in the U.K., Ireland, or Europe; (4) diversity of company size, type, location, demographics and traditional under-representation in business; and, (5) timeliness of completed application by company (including payment of participation fee). An applicant's partisan political activities (including political contributions) are entirely irrelevant to selection of mission participants. Endorsements/Referrals Third parties may nominate or endorse potential applicants, but companies that are nominated or endorsed must themselves submit an application in order to be eligible for consideration. Referrals from political organizations will not be considered. Costs The fee to participate in the mission is $1800. The participation fee does not cover the participant's travel, lodging or other personal expenses. Authority: 15 U.S.C. 1512. Dated: May 19, 1997. Franklin Vargo, Acting Assistant Secretary for Market Access and Compliance, International Trade Administration. [FR Doc. 97-13662 Filed 5-22-97; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-DA-P