MISSION STATEMENT

Women In Trade Business Development Mission

France and the Netherlands - May 7-12, 2000

Mission Description

Women In Trade Business Development Missions focus on women owned or managed businesses. This WIT Mission will target the Netherlands and France, two major U.S. export markets with

wide-ranging opportunities for American companies, and both good locations for business throughout Europe. Women In Trade Business Development Missions enjoy the support of the National Association of Women Business Owners, the Organization of Women in International Trade, and similar business organizations. This WIT Mission is open to all business executives without restriction. Prospective mission members have products and services with market potential in France and the Netherlands. A Commerce Department official will lead the group of business executives.

Commercial Setting

France and the Netherlands provide a wealth of business opportunities for U.S. companies. France is the world's fourth largest industrial economy, with a GDP of more than $1.4 trillion with annual real growth of 3.2 percent. The Netherlands has a GDP of $378 billion, growing at 3.7 percent. The United States is a major trading partner of both countries - American companies supply nearly $23 billion of France's $270 billion in imported goods, and over $7.5 billion of the Netherlands' total $185 billion imports.

France and the Netherlands offer American companies promising markets in their well developed industrial sectors as well as in business services. Both are very well suited as a base for business throughout the European market. Prospects are especially promising in: computers, peripherals and software; travel and tourism services; telecommunications equipment and services; environmental technologies; and employment services.

Goals

The goals of Women In Trade Business Development Missions support the Clinton Administration objective of serving a broad range of exporters and promoting the role of women business owners -- as well as Secretary Daley's priority of encouraging small and mid-sized American companies to explore trade openings and gain potentially lucrative markets. The principal commercial aim is to introduce American companies to new export markets and business opportunities, specifically to have WIT Mission members assess sales prospects and business partners first hand.

Scenario

WIT Mission executives will have two days of one-on-one meetings with prequalified sales prospects, potential agents, distributors, licensees, joint venture, and other business partners in each city. Mission members will receive comprehensive briefings from local business executives and other experts on how to do business in the Netherlands and France, attend business networking receptions, and receive market reports. Meetings with potential business partners may be in a central location or at the potential partner's place of business. The exact scenario may vary to take account of the business objectives of mission members and local market conditions.

Timetable

Sunday evening May 7 Mission members gather in the Hague

Monday a.m. May 8 Seminar/briefing on doing business in the Netherlands

Monday - Tuesday May 8-9 Business meetings in the Netherlands

Wednesday morning May 10 Travel to Paris

Wednesday p.m. Seminar/briefing on doing business in France

Thursday- Friday May 11-12 Business meetings in Paris

Company recruitment will begin immediately and conclude by Wednesday, March 22, 2000. Mission applications received after that date will be considered only to the extent that scheduling and space constraints permit.

Criteria for Participant Selection

Recruitment of WIT Mission members will be conducted in an open and public manner, including publication in the Federal Register, direct mailing, broadcast fax, press release to appropriate media, posting on the Internet, promotion at domestic exhibitions and conferences, and publicity through a network of women's business organizations.

Trade mission applications will be reviewed for market potential as they are received, then accepted on a "first come, first served" basis -- and must include a signed Participation Agreement and the participation fee (which is expected to be about $3,500). This WIT Mission will include between six and 20 firms.

A company's products or services should have market potential in France and the Netherlands, and the product or service must either be produced in the United States or, if not, be marketed under the name of a U.S. firm and have at least 51 percent U.S. content of the value of the finished product or service.

Any partisan political activities (including political contributions) of an applicant are entirely irrelevant to the selection process.

Contact Information

Ms. Loretta Allison

Women In Trade Business Development Missions Telephone: 202-482-5479

U.S. Department of Commerce, Room 2003 Facsimile: 202-482-1999

Washington, DC 20230 Loretta_Allison@ita.doc.gov