MISSION DESCRIPTION:
CS Dusseldorf is organizing a Corporate Executive Office (CEO) at Interpack ’99 from May 6-8, 1999 in Dusseldorf, Germany. Interpack is the largest trade fair for packaging machinery, packaging, and confectionery packaging machinery in Europe and is organized by the Dusseldorf Trade Show Authorities and their U.S. representation. The previous Interpack held in 1996 registered over 2,341 exhibitors and 187,000 visitors. The organizers of Interpack are very interested in the presence of international exhibitors and support CS Dusseldorf’s efforts to organize an additional U.S. presence under the CEO program.
American manufacturers of packaging equipment products and services have the opportunity to participate in the CEO program, and thereby become familiar with the show, be counseled by Commercial Service personnel, and meet with potential agents and distributors at this important international trade show. For a participation fee of $1,800.00, participants will receive a complete office environment in the fair’s conference facility with meeting space, fax, telephone, e-mail capabilities and a bilingual assistant, all at a fraction of the cost for full exhibition. It is important to note that the CEO is not designed to permit participants to exhibit. The CEO program is open to all U.S. packaging firms whose products/services are at least 51% U.S. made and who otherwise satisfy the product classification requirements for exhibition at Interpack. Participation fees cover the cost of the program, exhibitor passes for a maximum of two company representatives for the duration of the show, and one show catalog per company.
COMMERCIAL SETTING:
In general, the German commercial environment is favorable towards U.S. packaging products and services. Germany continues to be a world market leader in the packaging industry. Major manufacturers are considering investing in facility expansion and modernization since their production capacities are being fully utilized. U.S. exporters and suppliers of innovative packaging technology and products should have good business opportunities in this market.
MISSION GOALS:
The mission’s goal is to provide the proper environment and opportunity for small and medium-sized American packaging companies to promote their products and services and find potential agents/distributors at the major international fair in Europe in this sector without having to incur the far greater financial burden of organizing an exhibit. This is critical because, apart from establishing a subsidiary in Europe, finding a German/European business partner is the only viable way to meet the access requirements of the European market.
MISSION SCENARIO:
CEO participants will spend three days at Interpack ’99 in Dusseldorf, Germany beginning on May 6, 1999. They will receive an initial briefing by FCS Düsseldorf personnel and be introduced to a personal bilingual assistant who will accompany the participant throughout the duration of the CEO and provide assistance during appointments. During the CEO, participants will be able to utilize the office environment of the CEO as a base of operations and as a meeting place for appointments, close to but separate from the distractions of the show floor proper. As the show will run until May 12th, CEO participants may choose to continue to attend Interpack and work the show after the CEO ends.
In addition to participation at the show, the region surrounding Dusseldorf, including the neighboring European countries, is an important center for the packaging industry and provides excellent access to major western European markets for follow up. The high international acceptance of Interpack makes this a compelling reason for American companies interested in the market who are not able to exhibit to participate in the CEO.
TIMETABLE:
Event participants will arrive in Dusseldorf on or about May 5, 1999. Three days of trade show participation (including meetings arranged during the trade show) will be held May 6-8, 1999 in Dusseldorf.
CS Dusseldorf has principal recruitment responsibility. Event promotion will involve a mailing to approximately 500 U.S. packaging firms taken from industry directories, show guides, and USDOC’s CMS database of U.S. exporters. It will also include relevant trade associations, and individual packaging firms counseled in the past. Promotional materials for the CEO at Interpack ’99 will also be listed on the International Trade Administration’s Internet home page.
Recruitment will commence immediately and will close on March 31, 1999, five weeks prior to the start of the event.
CRITERIA FOR PARTICIPATION:
- Relevance of the company’s business line to CEO goals.
- Satisfaction of the product/service criteria of Dusseldorf Fairs for participation in the show.
- Potential for business in the selected market.
- Timeliness of the company’s completed application and fee (number of participants is limited.)
- Provision of adequate information on the company’s products or services
- Communication of the company’s primary objectives to facilitate appropriate matching with potential business partners.
- Certification that the company's products and/or services are 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:
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