[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 31 (Friday, February 14, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7126-7127]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-3734]



[[Page 7125]]

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Part IV





Department of Commerce





_______________________________________________________________________



International Trade Administration



_______________________________________________________________________



Commerce Trade Fair Privatization: Private Sector Organization and 
Management of U.S. Exhibitor Pavilions at Overseas Trade Fairs; Notice

Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 31 / Friday, February 14, 1997 / 
Notices

[[Page 7126]]



DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration
[Docket No. 960306059-7012.02]
RIN 0625-ZA01


Commerce Trade Fair Privatization: Private Sector Organization 
and Management of U.S. Exhibitor Pavilions at Overseas Trade Fairs

AGENCY: International Trade Administration, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of privatization and request for applications from 
qualified U.S. firms.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This notice sets forth a summary of the objectives and 
procedures for qualified U.S. firms to apply for and assume 
responsibility for recruiting, promoting, organizing, constructing, and 
managing a U.S. exhibitor pavilion at various FY 1998 international 
trade shows previously organized and managed by Commerce. In this 
context and throughout this notice, this transfer of responsibilities 
is referred to as ``privatization.'' In order to apply, interested 
firms must contact Commerce for a complete set of eligibility criteria, 
instructions, and an application.

DATES: These administrative procedures are effective on February 14, 
1997. Applications must be received by Commerce by March 31, 1997.

ADDRESS: Trade Fair Certification Program, Room 2116, Export Promotion 
Services, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of 
Commerce, 14th and Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Donald Huber, Manager, Trade Fair 
Certification Program, U.S. Department of Commerce, Room 2116, 14th and 
Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20230. Tel: (202) 482-2525; 
Fax: (202) 482-0115. Applicants may also want to contact the U.S. 
Department of Commerce industry officer, the Commercial Section of the 
U.S. Embassy in the respective country that has previously organized 
and managed the U.S. pavilion, and/or the trade fair proprietor about 
actual show dates, event specifics and logistics.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: As part of its focus to increase exports, 
the National Export Strategy, dated September 30, 1993, calls for the 
Administration to reduce the number of trade events the U.S. Government 
(USG) organizes, encourage more private sector participation in the 
trade event process, and invite qualified private sector firms to bid 
for those events they desire to handle. While this strategy refers to 
all USG-organized events, this notice is concerned only with the 
privatization of the International Trade Administration events listed 
in this notice. Private sector organizers in this privatization process 
assume the responsibilities of organizing and managing a U.S. pavilion 
in designated overseas trade fairs, in lieu of Commerce. As part of 
this privatization process, those firms selected to organize, recruit, 
and manage a show listed in this notice will also receive, on a one-
time basis, certification for the show under the Trade Fair 
Certification Program. Subsequent certification must be applied for on 
an annual basis and will be open to any organizer. Certification 
assures Commerce's recognition and support of these private sector 
efforts.
    Commerce does not provide any financial assistance to organizers or 
to exhibitors at these shows. As with the existing Trade Fair 
Certification Program, the selected organizer contributes $1,500 to 
assist in defraying Commerce expenses incurred in supporting the 
organizer and exhibitors.
    Organizers selected by Commerce are not representatives of the 
Department or the U.S. Government and are prohibited from making 
statements to that effect.
    Principal requirements and criteria of the privatization process 
are summarized below:
    <bullet> The applicant must be a U.S. person. A ``U.S. person'' 
means a U.S. citizen, or an entity (such as a corporation, partnership, 
association or other entity) created under the laws of the United 
States or of any state, or the U.S. branch or agent of a foreign 
person. An officer of an American Chamber of Commerce, located in the 
country, is eligible to submit an application. Such an applicant must 
meet the same criteria and perform the same requirements as a U.S. 
person. Applications will not be accepted from other foreign-based 
persons or entities.
    <bullet> Formation of a U.S. pavilion is required.
    <bullet> In order to qualify, all applications must be received by 
March 31, 1997.
    <bullet> The selected U.S. pavilion organizer must offer U.S. firms 
that participated in the last show, space in the upcoming show that is 
at least equivalent in size, quality, and location.
    <bullet> Production of a catalog of U.S. exhibitors is required.
    <bullet> The selected pavilion organizer must recruit a minimum 
number of exhibitors. This number will vary according to the specific 
event.
    <bullet> Selected organizers must undertake a comprehensive U.S. 
exhibitor recruitment campaign, including measures to target and 
recruit small, medium size, and new-to-market firms.
    <bullet> Selected organizers are required to send a representative 
to the show for its duration and staff an office or booth within the 
show.
    <bullet> Trade association applicants cannot restrict their U.S. 
exhibitor recruitment campaign or exhibitor participation to 
association members only. Such applicants must acknowledge and agree to 
this condition.
    <bullet> Commerce cannot guarantee that the foreign trade fair 
proprietor will agree to privatization of the U.S. pavilion in the 
subject event. Commerce will assist the selected U.S. pavilion 
organizer in its discussions with the foreign event proprietor, but it 
is the foreign event proprietor's decision to grant the necessary lease 
for exhibit space.
    <bullet> Within 60 days from the date of being notified of 
selection, the U.S. pavilion organizer must submit the necessary lease 
documentation.
    <bullet> Pavilion organizers should note that the foreign event 
proprietor may opt to select its own agent in advance of Commerce's 
selection of a U.S. pavilion organizer. In such cases, Commerce will 
continue to offer its support to the U.S. pavilion organizer and event, 
but via the standard Trade Fair Certification Program, as prescribed in 
the Federal Register notice dated April 30, 1993, 58 FR 26116.
    <bullet> Prior to selection of the U.S. pavilion organizer, 
Commerce reserves the right to withdraw an event from the privatization 
process if circumstances warrant Commerce's retention of the event. 
Also, following selection of the U.S. pavilion organizer, Commerce may 
withdraw its support of the U.S. pavilion organizer if Commerce 
determines that the U.S. pavilion organizer has not complied with the 
provisions outlined in this notice or in the application materials and 
process. Commerce also retains the option to directly organize and 
manage a pavilion of exhibitors under these circumstances.
    <bullet> While the foreign event proprietor will be encouraged to 
offer the selected U.S. pavilion organizer leased space under the same 
conditions and rates that would be offered to Commerce, Commerce cannot 
guarantee this will be the case.
    Commerce seeks applications from qualified firms, associations, or 
the local American Chamber of Commerce abroad to assume U.S. pavilion 
recruitment, promotion, organization and management functions in the 
following shows. Show name, minimum number of exhibitors to be 
recruited, location,

[[Page 7127]]

month/year and basic industry(s) are shown below. In order to apply, 
interested firms must contact Commerce for a complete set of 
eligibility criteria, instructions, and an application. Applications 
must be received by Commerce by March 31, 1997. The collection of 
information is approved by the Office of Management and Budget, OMB 
Control Number 0625-0222. Persons are not required to respond to the 
collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB 
control number.

                             Shows for Privatization in FY 1998 and 1st Qtr FY 1999                             
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   Min                                                                          
           Event name              exb.          Location                  Date                Industries       
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Bucharest Int'l Fair.........     25  Bucharest, Romania......  Oct. 97............  Indust eqpmt/consumer   
                                                                                         goods.                 
2. Comdex/Pacific Rim...........     10  Vancouver, Canada.......  Jan. 98............  Computers/periph/       
                                                                                         services.              
3. Canadian Hrdwr/Hswr/Home.....     10  Toronto, Canada.........  Feb. 98............  Consumer goods.         
4. Wisitex '98 <SUP>#................     20  New Delhi, India........  Feb. 98............  Procs cntrls/telcom/    
                                                                                         electronic.            
5. Visit USA....................     20  Sao Paulo, Brazil.......  Mar. 98............  Tourism products/       
                                                                                         services.              
6. Canadian Int'l Auto Show <SUP>#...     10  Toronto, Canada.........  Apr. 98............  Parts/accessories/rpr   
                                                                                         eqpmt.                 
7. Forest Expo '98..............     10  Pr. George, Canada......  May 98.............  Log&mill eqpmt/pulp/    
                                                                                         mgmt.                  
8. Expomin 98...................    200  Santiago, Chile.........  May 98.............  Mining/extraction eqpmt.
9. Plastex '98..................     10  Toronto, Canada.........  May 98.............  Plastic machs/molds/    
                                                                                         tech.                  
10. National Petroleum Show.....     15  Calgary, Canada.........  Jun. 98............  Oil&gas eqpmt/services. 
11. Zagreb Fall Fair............     10  Zagreb, Croatia.........  Sep. 98............  consumr good/indust     
                                                                                         mach.                  
12. Canadian High Technology....     10  Toronto, Canada.........  Sep. 98............  Electron compnts/test   
                                                                                         eqpmt.                 
13. Euronaval...................     20  Paris, France *.........  Oct. 98............  Defense industry.       
14. Pollutec....................     15  Lyon, France *..........  Oct. 98............  Pollution control       
                                                                                         eqpmnt.                
15. Jeddah Motor Show...........     10  Jeddah, SA *............  Nov. 98............  Vehicles/parts/repr     
                                                                                         eqpmt.                 
16. Construct Canada............     10  Toronto, Canada *.......  Dec. 98............  Const eqpmt/matrls/     
                                                                                         services.              
17. Aero India '98..............     15  Bangalore, India *......  Dec. 98............  Aircraft industry.      
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Bienniel Show.                                                                                                 
 FY 1999 Show.                                                                                                  

    Dated: February 7, 1997.
Mary Fran Kirchner,
Chairman, ITA Trade Events Board.
[FR Doc. 97-3734 Filed 2-13-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-FP-P