Event Description:

The U.S. Department of Commerce's office in Brazil and the U.S. Department of Commerce's Domestic Aerospace and Defense Technology Team are organizing the Aerospace Executive Service at Latin America Defentech 2003 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The Aerospace Executive Service affords lower-cost access to small and medium-sized businesses by allowing them to participate in the Latin America Defentech 2003 without taking on the enormous expense of purchasing and staffing booth space.

The Aerospace Executive Service package at the Latin America Defentech 2003 includes:

• 2 days of pre-scheduled meetings with potential partners, agents and buyers (April 23-24, 2003)
• Interpreters
• Official show entry passes & Latin America Defentech 2003 Exhibitor's Directory
• Formal market briefing
• Company product literature will be displayed in the U.S. pavilion
• On-site Aerospace Executive Service program coordination
• Aerospace & defense market briefing
• Logistical support

Commercial Setting:

Latin America Defentech 2003 will be the fourth biennial show in its series and will be staged in Rio at the Riocentro, April 22-25, 2003. This forthcoming edition will include equipment and services for the armed forces of Latin America.

Latin America's Defense market represents growing business for aerospace manufacturers. Requirements are emerging in the region for new and upgraded fighters, surveillance and patrol platforms, air-to-air tankers and counter-insurgency/anti-narcotics equipment. Market analyst Forecast International/DMS projects a gradual increase in Latin American military expenditure from $28 billion last year to $32.2 billion by 2005 as local economies begin to pick up. The nations of Latin America are also taking an active role in United Nations-sponsored peace keeping /disaster relief missions throughout the world.

The armed forces of Brazil have experienced tremendous changes over the past twenty years and they are continuing to modernize their equipment and systems. The Brazilian government has given approval for a US$ 3.4 billion funding program, which aims to address the most urgent updating requirements of the Brazilian Air Force.

It is against this background that Latin America Defentech 2003 will provide the perfect platform for bringing together both customers and suppliers. The 2001 show experienced substantial growth over the previous event. Display area was increased by over 40% and the number of professional visitors rose by 60% to 8555. The number of exhibiting countries increased and there were national pavilions representing over 20 nations, including the United States.

Mission Goals:

The goal of the Aerospace Executive Service at the Latin America Defentech 2003 is to facilitate an effective presence for small to medium-sized companies without incurring the major expenses associated with purchasing and staffing exhibition space. The Aerospace Executive Service enables U.S. aerospace companies to familiarize themselves with this important trade fair, to conduct market research, and to explore export opportunities through pre-screened meetings with potential partners.

The Aerospace Executive Service also allows U.S. companies to have a presence at the show, providing them with an enhanced image and level of engagement, an office infrastructure environment, and the support of knowledgeable Commercial Service staff and personal assistants focused on furthering company-specific objectives. Access to Brazil and other international markets and business partners is made possible through the Aerospace Executive Service in a manner which cannot be matched by simply attending the show as a visitor.

Mission Scenario:

The maximum number of participants is ten. U.S. Department of Commerce Domestic Aerospace & Defense Team members and other domestic office trade specialists will recruit and counsel prospective participants for the Latin America Defentech 2003 Aerospace Executive Service. Company information and literature will be forwarded by the companies to U.S. Department of Commerce office in Rio de Janeiro and distributed for familiarization to a contractor in advance, whereupon he/she will begin the partner search, management and logistical coordination of the program.

An Aerospace & Defense Team member will arrive in Brazil prior to the show. Participants will arrive in Brazil on their own schedule and will report to the Aerospace Executive Service program headquarters site on April 22, 2003. At this time, they will be briefed by U.S. Department of Commerce staff on program features, receive a country/regional briefing on market opportunities, and later begin their series of meetings (avg. three meetings per day for two days).

Company literature and promotional material will be shipped to U.S. Department of Commerce office in Rio de Janeiro or sent electronically. No exhibition or larger demonstration items are appropriate and will not be permitted. U.S. Department of Commerce staff and the contractor will be available for information and assistance throughout the duration of the Latin America Defentech show and an Aerospace & Defense Technology Team member will be on-site through April 25th.

Timetable:

Participants will arrive according to their own schedules, and will assemble at the Aerospace Executive Service Program headquarters site on April 22th; the program will end April 24th.

Criteria for Participant Selection

• Acceptability of product area/sector for exhibition at the Latin America Defentech show according to trade fair rules. Regulation information can be found at the shows website at http://www.lad-online.com.
• Timely receipt of company's completed application and participation agreement, and payment of the $1,825 participation fee.
• Timely and adequate provision of company and product/service information and literature, to
  enable communication of company's objectives and scheduling of appointments.

This Aerospace Executive Service participation promotion will be conducted primarily by U.S. Department of Commerce Domestic Aerospace & Defense Technology Team members and other trade specialists in domestic U.S. Department of Commerce offices and supported by the U.S. Department of Commerce office in Rio de Janeiro. Promotion/recruitment will be conducted in an open and public manner, including posting on the Commerce Department trade missions calendar - www.ita.doc.gov/doctm/tmcal.html - and other Internet websites, publication in domestic trade publications and association newsletters, mailings from internal mailing lists, Winfaxes to internal database aerospace clients, email to aerospace distribution lists and through posting in the Federal Register. Recruitment will close March 10, 2003. Applications received after that date will be considered only if space and scheduling constraints permit.

A company's products and/or services must be manufactured or produced in the United States or if manufactured/produced outside of the United States, the product/service must be marketed under the name of a U.S. firm and have U.S. content representing at least 51% of the value of the finished good or service.

Any partisan political activities of an applicant, including political contributions, will be entirely irrelevant to the selection process.

Contact information:

Jason Sproule
U.S. Department of Commerce
3300 Irvine Avenue, Suite 305
Newport Beach, CA 92660
Tel. 949-660-1688 ext. 151
Fax 949-660-8039
Email: Jason.Sproule@mail.doc.gov
Web Site: www.oceac.com/buyusa/aes_lad

Keith Curtis
U.S. Department of Commerce, Deputy Senior Commercial Officer, Brazil
SES - Av. das Nações, Quadra 801, Lote 03
Brasilia - DF
70403-900
Tel: 5561-312-7403
Fax: 5561-225-3981
Email: Keith.Curtis@mail.doc.gov