Trade Leads for the Weeks of June 7-11, 2004

Unabridged

**U.S. Furniture Catalog Show:**\
CS Jerusalem is organizing a unique \"U.S. Furniture Catalog Show,\"
August 17-19, 2004, that should be of keen interest to American
furniture exporters. Our aim is to match up American manufacturers with
well-known and respected local distributors, agents and/or
representatives who operate in the the roughly \$100 million Palestinian
furniture market - and to explore interest in American furniture in the
Israeli-Arab market, which represents about one-fifth Israel\'s
population.\
\
Palestinians and Arab Israelis appreciate traditional American furniture
style, and good sales opportunities exist for upholstered living room
sets, dining and bedroom sets, sleepers and recliners, coffee and end
tables, home entertainment furniture and various curios.\
\
Please take a look at our recent summary market report - and register
your interest in the event - on our website:\
<http://www.buyusa.gov/westbank/en/furniture.html>

China Newsletter:

Please click this link to see this week\'s CCB edition.

[http://www.buyusa.gov/china/en/ccb040616.html]{.underline}

**Summary**

1\. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) today launched its largest-ever food
project, and one of the largest in the world. The IDF is privatizing
preparation and supply of all meals to its units. 150,000-190,000
portions will be cooked at several central kitchens owned by commercial
companies, and supplied to all IDF units and the Israel Police. American
companies with experience in the preparation and distribution of
pre-prepared meals should bid for this tender. The U.S Commercial
Service, with offices in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, assists American
companies to succeed in Israel by providing them with a variety of
services and organizing trade promotion events. **End of Summary**

**Opportunities for U.S. food companies**

2\. The IDF has indicated that companies that team up with US
manufacturers will be considered an advantage for the contractor. In
fact, contractors will be able to purchase raw materials from US
companies, and part of the food budget will be paid for with US military
aid funds. American companies that possess extensive experience in the
preparation and distribution of large quantities of pre-prepared meals
should apply for this tender.

**Requirements**

3\. The Ministry of Defense deputy procurement head announced that
suppliers would be required to establish commercial kitchens, or upgrade
existing ones to produce 150,000 -190,000 meals per day for the IDF and
20,000 for the police. It has not been decided yet whether the project
will be divided between two to three contractors on a geographic basis
or a single company for the entire country. In order to cut production
costs, the Ministry of Defense will allow the food contractors chosen in
the tender to prepare more meals for institutions in the private market.

**Term of Operation**

4\. The period of the agreement between the IDF and the tender winners
will be 5-10 years. Payment for the meals will be according to the
number of meals actually produced per day, and according to the
satisfaction of the soldiers eating the meals. The IDF plans to reward
manufacturers producing better food, and penalize those whose food does
not please the soldiers. Sources involved in the project are not sure
yet whether the IDF will obtain ownership of the kitchens constructed
for the project after the operating period, which will increase the cost
of the project, or whether the franchise holders will keep them.
Commencement date January 2007.

For more information on this opportunity, please contact Commercial
Assistant Alan Wielunski at:

Tel: 972-3-519-7390, Fax: 972-3-510-7215 and E-mail:
[alan.wielunski@mail.doc.gov]{.underline}

1 - Summary and action requested. Natural Products Expo East 2004 (NPEE
2004) has been selected to participate in the FY 2005 international
buyer program. This is an action cable aimed at commercial specialists
responsible for the healthcare, agri-business/processed foods sectors
and related industries, and/or designated to promote NPEE 2004.

For action requested: please refer to paragraph 6.

For reference, this cable will use the following format:

2 event description

3 event contacts

4 event promotion

5 onsite promotions

6 actions requested

2 -- Event description

a\. General description:

NPEE, in its 19^th^ year, is a leading trade show for the natural
products industry. In 2003, 1125 exhibiting companies (in 1,740 exhibit
booths) displayed a broad array of products, including approximately 600
new products, from a number of sectors at this event. NPEE's sister
shows -- Natural Products Expo Europe, Natural Products Expo Asia, and
Natural Products Expo West -- are also prominent shows in this sector,
with the West show being the premier trade show in this industry.

NPEE is expected to attract over 20,000 visitors in 2004, with over
1,200 attendees from abroad, representing 75 countries. The growth in
the natural products industry has dramatically surpassed growth in
counterpart mainstream markets in recent years, and this trend is
expected to continue.

NPEE, like the other Natural Products Expo trade events, are
"shows-within-shows" as several product categories are represented
including organic and natural foods, healthcare, supplements and others.

As with last year's show, Natural Products Expo East 2004 will offer
extensive educational programs, workshops, and seminars focusing on best
practices in the natural products industry as well as current industry
trends and research. Also, there are networking and social events every
day and evening offering attendees numerous opportunities to meet
exhibitors and other attendees off the show floor.

Detailed information on exhibits, seminars and networking will be
available on [www.expoeast.com](http://www.expoeast.com/)

b\. Product categories: a wide range of products and services related to
natural and organic products and foods including:

1.Supplements

2.Personal Care

3.Supplies (components used in production/sales of products)

4.Natural living (recycled products, environmental cleaners, pet
products etc.)

5.International (products from outside the U.S.)

6.Healthcare -- complementary/alternative medicine

7.Food (including Organic, Natural, Specialty/Gourmet)

As in the 2003 show, Natural Products Expo East will partner with the
world\'s largest all organic trade show, BioFach, at the 2004 show, to
emphasize and enhance the worldwide organic foods market. Organic
Products Expo - BioFach America, located at Natural Products Expo East,
includes a large section of exhibits, a dedicated seminar program and
specific events for attendees interested in improving their business in
the organic foods market.

Target audience: retailers, healthcare practitioners, importers, foreign
sales representatives, foreign distributors of natural and organic
products and supplies, and suppliers and manufacturers looking to
purchase raw ingredients or supplies being exhibited in the NPEE
exhibition .

3 -- Event contacts

a\. Show organizer:

Jo Dickson

Project Manager

New Hope Natural Media

1401 Pearl Street, Suite 200

Boulder, Colorado 80302

Tel: 303.998.9468

Fax: 303.939.9559

e-mail: <jdickson@newhope.com>

[www.expoeast.com](http://www.expoeast.com/)

Alternative Organizer contact:\
Customer Service Group

1.303.390.1776, tradeshows@newhope.com

b\. Project officer:

Bill Kutson

Tel: 202-482-2839

Fax: 202-482-2718

e-mail: <William.Kutson@mail.doc.gov>

c\. Trade development, ODO and Teams

Td and ODO representatives will be designated later

Healthcare Team Leader:

Dorothy Zur Muhlen-Tomaszewska

USEAC: Boston, MA

Tel: 617-425-5590

Fax: 617-4242-5592

Note: project officer is primary contact for IBP event. Kindly
coordinate and cc project officer on correspondence relating to
IBP-related activities.

4\. Event promotion

a\. Multi-language brochures: multi-language brochures will be mailed to
all posts in June 2004**.** (please refer to action requested at end of
cable, point 6)

b\. Internet: NPEE will post an extensive website that will have
exhibitor information, show plans, conference sessions, products,
import/export matchmaking forms, event listings, VISA invitation letter
request form, multi-language show information, registration, housing
forms and up to the minute industry news. The website is:
www.expoeast.com

c\. NPEE Registration forms for IBP delegates will be available online
shortly. [The pre-registration deadline is September 17^th^,
2004.]{.underline} Qualified buyers, distributors and importer/exporters
that register online by September 17^th^ 2004, will not be required to
pay a registration fee.

d\. Hotels:

**Reservations may be made through the NPEE website**
[www.expoeast.com](http://www.expoeast.com/) **which offers complete
housing information. DEADLINE: October 1, 2004.**

Provided all delegation members are booked through I.T.S., Natural
Products Expo East 2004 will provide complimentary hotel accommodations
for each delegation leader organizing a group of 15 or more to the
event. Spouses (who are not a company officials) and visitors do not
qualify as part of a delegation.

[]{.mark}

5\. Onsite programs

a\. International Business Center -- show management and the Department
of Commerce will maintain a comprehensive International Business Center
(IBC) at the DC Convention Center in Washington DC. Project officer Bill
Kutson EPS will manage the IBC. A trade specialist from TD will be named
to the IBC staff later, as well as a USEAC trade specialist. The IBC
will provide translation services, matching services, private meeting
rooms, telephones, fax and computer/Internet access services, and lounge
area. Further details such as location and additional services will
follow.

b\. Trade Development and team activities: any UBP-specific TD and/or
team plans will be communicated at a later date.

c\. Matchmaking: NPEE 2004 will feature an electronic matching system to
assist international attendees in locating U.S. exhibitors interested in
exporting, and exhibitors looking for foreign buyer contacts. Matching
terminals will be located in the IBC. Additionally, the NPEE show
organizers will have import/export matchmaking forms available for
completion on their website in order to help facilitate appointments
between buyers and exhibitors at the show.

6\. Action Requested

a\. Request that posts which identified healthcare/medical and
agri-business events in the CCG for promotion do so; that posts which
identified the sectors or sub-sectors as best prospects consider
promoting event, and invite any other interested posts to promote event
-- please respond clearly on whether post intends to recruit a foreign
buyer delegation.

b\. General information is requested on how post intends to promote the
event and if they intend to recruit a delegation, as well as how posts
qualify buyers in their delegations.

c\. Brochure requests: the NPEE show organizer will send a few
international show brochures, and mailing labels for potential attendees
from the respective countries, to all posts. Please inform show
organizer Jo Dickson (see point 3,contact information) if you would like
to receive additional copies (please cc Project Officer, Bill Kutson).
Be sure to include quantity requested and your shipping address.

When requesting brochures, please advise briefly how posts will promote
the event, (e.g. press announcement, direct mail solicitation, and how
multi-language brochures will be used, e.g., placement of show
advertisement, cooperation with travel agencies and/or industry
associations, etc.). Posts not requesting additional brochures, but
still actively promoting this event should also inform International
Buyer Program Project Officer Bill Kutson of promotion plans.

Natural Products Expo East 2004 would appreciate all posts making show
materials available to appropriate companies and/or industry contacts
(including potential industry press publications). Natural Products Expo
East 2004 would also like to expand its international announcements of
the event by placing ads in industry specific publications. If such
opportunities exist, please provide contact, name of publishing firm(s),
address, phone, fax, cost, and readership information.

Bill Kutson

Senior International Trade Specialist

Export Promotion Services

U.S. & Foreign Commercial Service

14th & Constitution Avenue, NW

Room 2117

Washington, DC 20230

T 202.482.2839

F 202.482.2718