ITALY AND SPAIN
JULY 6 - 15, 2002
MISSION STATEMENT
I. DESCRIPTION OF THE MISSION
Assistant Secretary of Commerce and Director General (AS/DG) of the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service Maria Cino will lead a senior-level business development trade mission focusing on women or minority-owned and/or –managed businesses to Rome and Milan, Italy, and Barcelona and Madrid, Spain. This Business Development Mission is being organized to coincide with the Global Summit of Women, to be held on July 11th, 12th and 13th, in Barcelona, Spain. The Global Summit of Women will bring together many high-level female private and public sector participants from around the world. While the trade mission and summit focus on women or minority-owned and/or managed companies, participation in the mission is not limited to such businesses and all interested U.S. companies are encouraged to apply to this four-city, two country trade mission.
The overall focus of the trip will be commercial opportunities for U.S.
companies, including joint ventures and export opportunities, in the thriving
markets of Spain and Italy. In Rome, Milan, Barcelona and Madrid, the participants
will have one day of one-on-one business meetings with potential buyers/partners.
The Barcelona portion of the trip will also include participation in The
Global Summit of Women.
SPAIN: Spain is among the ten largest economies in the world and is currently the world’s fastest growing major industrialized economy. With an economy approximately as large as Canada’s and transparent trade rules inherent in its EU membership, Spain offers an ideal export market for a wide-variety of U.S. consumer and capital goods. The two industrial and logistical motors of Spain’s robust economy are Barcelona and Madrid. Hence, participation in this trade mission will introduce mission members to potential business partners in both Barcelona and Madrid.
IV. SCENARIO FOR THE MISSION
The trip itinerary will be as follows:
July 7th – Arrive Rome
July 7th – Mission Team Introduction Meeting, Country Team Briefing
July 8th – One on One Appointments for Delegation in Rome, Ambassador’s Reception
July 9th – Early am travel to Milan, Commercial Briefing, One on One Appointments for Delegation in Milan
July 10th- One on One Appointments for Delegation in Milan, Consul General’s Reception
July 11th – Early am travel to Barcelona, Commercial Briefing, Conference Events
July 12th – One on One Appointments for Delegation in Barcelona, Conference Events
July 13th – Conference Events
July 14th – Travel to Madrid, Country Team Briefing
July 15th – One on One Appointments for Delegation in Madrid, Mission Wrap-up Dinner
July 16th – Return to U.S.
V. CRITERIA FOR PARTICIPATION OF COMPANIES
Recruitment of mission members will be conducted in an open and public manner utilizing Commercial Service Export Assistance Centers and industry teams. Promotion will include publication of the event in the Federal Register, direct mailing, e-mailing, broadcast fax, press releases to appropriate media, posting on the Internet, promotion at domestic exhibitions and conferences, and publicized announcements through a network of minority and women's business organizations. Companies will be selected according to the criteria set out below. Approximately 10 -15 companies will be selected.
Selection Criteria
Company participation will be determined on the basis of:
Applications for the trade mission to Italy and Spain will be made available beginning on March 18th. The fee to participate in the mission will be $3,000 and will not cover travel or lodging expenses. For additional information on the trade mission or to obtain an application, businesspersons should be referred to Selina Marquez of the U.S. Commercial Service at 202-482-4799. Applications should be submitted to Selina Marquez by May 1st, in order to ensure sufficient time to obtain in-country appointments for applicants selected to participate in the mission. Applications received after that date will be considered only if space and scheduling constraints permit. The name, telephone number, and address for the contact person for the trade mission follows: