Announcement of Approved International Trade Administration Trade Mission

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Published

February 2, 2023

Issuing agencies

Commerce DepartmentInternational Trade Administration

Abstract

The United States Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration (ITA), is announcing an upcoming trade mission that will be recruited, organized, and implemented by ITA. This mission is: Global Diversity Export Initiative (GDEI) Education Trade Mission to Brazil, Discover the Hidden Values in U.S. Higher Education, Sao Paolo, Salvador and Fortaleza Brazil, April 11-15, 2023. A summary of the mission is found below. Application information and more detailed mission information, including the commercial setting and sector information, can be found at the trade mission website: https:// www.trade.gov/trade-missions. For each mission, recruitment will be conducted in an open and public manner, including publication in the Federal Register, posting on the Commerce Department trade mission calendar (https://www.trade.gov/trade-missions-schedule) and other internet websites, press releases to general and trade media, direct mail, broadcast fax, notices by industry trade associations and other multiplier groups, and publicity at industry meetings, symposia, conferences, and trade shows.

Full Text

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 22 (Thursday, February 2, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 22 (Thursday, February 2, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7074-7077]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-02150]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

Announcement of Approved International Trade Administration Trade
Mission

AGENCY: International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.

SUMMARY: The United States Department of Commerce, International Trade
Administration (ITA), is announcing an upcoming trade mission that will
be recruited, organized, and implemented by ITA. This mission is:
Global Diversity Export Initiative (GDEI) Education Trade Mission to
Brazil, Discover the Hidden Values in U.S. Higher Education, Sao Paolo,
Salvador and Fortaleza Brazil, April 11-15, 2023. A summary of the
mission is found below. Application information and more detailed
mission information, including the commercial setting and sector
information, can be found at the trade mission website: <a href="https://www.trade.gov/trade-missions">https://www.trade.gov/trade-missions</a>. For each mission, recruitment will be
conducted in an open and public manner, including publication in the
Federal Register, posting on the Commerce Department trade mission
calendar (<a href="https://www.trade.gov/trade-missions">https://www.trade.gov/trade-missions</a>-schedule) and other
internet websites, press releases to general and trade media, direct
mail, broadcast fax, notices by industry trade associations and other
multiplier groups, and publicity at industry meetings, symposia,
conferences, and trade shows.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeffrey Odum, Events Management Task
Force, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce,
1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone (202) 482-
6397 or email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#f6bc93909084938fd8b992839bb68284979293d8919980">[email&#160;protected]</a>.

[[Page 7075]]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Following Conditions for Participation Will Be Used for the Mission

Applicants must submit a completed and signed mission application
and supplemental application materials, including adequate information
on their products and/or services, primary market objectives, and goals
for participation that is adequate to allow the Department of Commerce
to evaluate their application. If the Department of Commerce receives
an incomplete application, the Department may either: reject the
application, request additional information/clarification, or take the
lack of information into account when evaluating the application. If
the requisite minimum number of participants is not selected for a
particular mission by the recruitment deadline, the mission may be
cancelled.
Each applicant must also certify that the products and services it
seeks to export through the mission are either produced in the United
States, or, if not, are marketed under the name of a U.S. firm and have
at least fifty-one percent U.S. content by value. In the case of a
Study State Consortia or other government education stakeholders (e.g.,
Governor's offices, state trade offices, economic development
organizations, etc.), the applicant must certify that, for each firm or
service provider to be represented, the products and/or services the
represented firm or service provider seeks to export are either
produced in the United States or, if not, marketed under the name of a
U.S. firm and have at least 51% U.S. content.
A Study State Consortia or other government education stakeholder
applicant must certify to the above for every company it seeks to
represent on the mission. In addition, each applicant must:
<bullet> Certify that the products and services that it wishes to
market through the mission would be in compliance with U.S. export
controls and regulations;
<bullet> Certify that it has identified any matter pending before
any bureau or office in the Department of Commerce;
<bullet> Certify that it has identified any pending litigation
(including any administrative proceedings) to which it is a party that
involves the Department of Commerce; and
<bullet> Sign and submit an agreement that it and its affiliates
(1) have not and will not engage in the bribery of foreign officials in
connection with a company's/participant's involvement in this mission,
and (2) maintain and enforce a policy that prohibits the bribery of
foreign officials.
In the case of a Study State Consortia or other government
education stakeholder, the applicant must certify that each firm or
service provider to be represented by the association/organization can
make the above certifications.

The Following Selection Criteria Will Be Used for the Mission

Targeted mission participants are U.S. institutions, service
providers, Study State Consortia, and other government education
stakeholders providing or promoting U.S. programs and services that
have an interest in entering or expanding their business in the
mission's destination country. The following criteria will be evaluated
in selecting participants:
<bullet> Suitability of the applicant's (or in the case of a Study
State Consortia or other government education stakeholder, represented
institution's or service provider's) programs or services to this
market.
<bullet> The applicant's (or in the case of a Study State Consortia
or other government education stakeholder, represented institution's or
service provider's) potential for business in the markets, including
likelihood of exports resulting from the mission; and
<bullet> Consistency of the applicant's (or in the case of a Study
State Consortia or other government education stakeholder, represented
institution's or service provider's) goals and objectives with the
stated scope of the mission.
Balance of institution size and location may also be considered
during the review process.
Referrals from a political party or partisan political group or any
information, including on the application, containing references to
political contributions or other partisan political activities will be
excluded from the application and will not be considered during the
selection process.
The sender will be notified of these exclusions.

Trade Mission Participation Fees

If and when an applicant is selected to participate on a particular
mission, a payment to the Department of Commerce in the amount of the
designated participation fee below is required. Upon notification of
acceptance to participate, those selected have 5 business days to
submit payment or the acceptance may be revoked.
Participants selected for a trade mission will be expected to pay
for the cost of personal expenses, including, but not limited to,
international travel, lodging, meals, transportation, communication,
and incidentals, unless otherwise noted. Participants will, however, be
able to take advantage of U.S. Government rates for hotel rooms. In the
event that a mission is cancelled, no personal expenses paid in
anticipation of a mission will be reimbursed. However, participation
fees for a cancelled mission will be reimbursed to the extent they have
not already been expended in anticipation of the mission.
If a visa is required to travel on a particular mission, applying
for and obtaining such a visa will be the responsibility of the mission
participant. Government fees and processing expenses to obtain such a
visa are not included in the participation fee. However, the Department
of Commerce will provide instructions to each participant on the
procedures required to obtain business visas.
Trade mission members participate in trade missions and undertake
mission-related travel at their own risk. The nature of the security
situation in a given foreign market at a given time cannot be
guaranteed. The U.S. Government does not make any representations or
guarantees as to the safety or security of participants. The U.S.
Department of State issues U.S. Government international travel alerts
and warnings for U.S. citizens available at <a href="https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html/">https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html/</a>. Any question
regarding insurance coverage must be resolved by the participant and
its insurer of choice.

Important Note About the COVID-19 Pandemic

Travel and in-person activities are contingent upon the safety and
health conditions in the United States and the mission countries.
Should safety or health conditions not be appropriate for travel and/or
in-person activities, the Department will consider postponing the event
or offering a virtual program in lieu of an in-person agenda. In the
event of a postponement, the Department will notify the public and
applicants previously selected to participate in this mission will need
to confirm their availability but need not reapply. Should the decision
be made to organize a virtual program, the Department will adjust fees,
accordingly, prepare an agenda for virtual activities, and notify the
previously selected applicants with the option to opt-in to the new
virtual program.

[[Page 7076]]

Mission List: (additional information about trade missions can be
found at <a href="https://www.trade.gov/trade-missions">https://www.trade.gov/trade-missions</a>).

GDEI Education Trade Mission to Brazil, Discover the Hidden Values in
U.S. Higher Education, Sao Paolo, Salvador, and Fortaleza Brazil, April
11-15, 2023

Summary

The United States Department of Commerce, International Trade
Administration (ITA)'s Global Education Team, is organizing an
Education Trade Mission to Brazil, April 11-15, 2023. This Education
Trade Mission will target U.S. Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs)
which are New-to-Export (NTE), such as Historically Black Colleges and
Universities (HBCUs) and Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs), and
Study State Consortia (composed of colleges and universities, community
programs, and similar entities representing education within U.S.
states) and other government education stakeholders (e.g., Governor's
offices, state trade offices, economic development organizations, etc.)
that are interested in recruiting students from student communities in
Brazil's Northeast region. It will include an anchor stop in S[atilde]o
Paulo, a large metropolitan area that serves as the gateway to the
Northeast and represents significant student recruitment and
partnership opportunities. This trade mission is designed to provide a
manageable (in terms of time and budgetary commitment) opportunity for
HEIs that are new to exporting to experience the wide variety of
opportunities U.S. Government-led trade missions offer for
internationalization. The geographic proximity of the market lessens
the travel, logistics and time zone burden for participants allowing
them to focus on the core activities of the trade mission. Brazilian
students seeking international education opportunities have an affinity
for U.S. HEIs also due to this geographic proximity and cultural
familiarity. The Brazilian market is therefore a good first market for
NTE HEIs to explore.
Recruitment and consideration will be extended to all export-ready
institutions, Study State Consortia, and other government educational
stakeholders that meet the established criteria for participation in
the mission. ITA is seeking to improve outreach and representation of
HEIs that enroll students from underserved communities, such as U.S.
HBCUs and MSIs. This mission is in alignment with Executive Order 13985
on Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities
Through the Federal Government (January 25, 2021) (E.O. 13985), the
U.S. Department of Commerce Equity Action Plan, and the Global
Diversity Export Initiative of the U.S. Commercial Service. For the
purposes of the trade mission, ITA adopts the definition of
``underserved communities'' in E.O. 13985: ``populations sharing a
particular characteristic, as well as geographic communities, that have
been systematically denied a full opportunity to participate in aspects
of economic, social, and civic life, as exemplified by the list in the
preceding definition of `equity.' '' ``Equity'' is defined by E.O.
13985 as ``the consistent and systematic fair, just, and impartial
treatment of all individuals, including individuals who belong to
underserved communities that have been denied such treatment, such as
Black, Latino, and Indigenous and Native American persons, Asian
Americans and Pacific Islanders and other persons of color; members of
religious minorities; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer
(LGBTQ+) persons; persons with disabilities; persons who live in rural
areas; and persons otherwise adversely affected by persistent poverty
or inequality.'' This trade mission is also designed to be responsive
to the priorities stated by Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo and
outlined in the Equity Action Plan released in April 2022 which
includes ``[s]trengthen[ing] small businesses in underserved
communities by helping them be successful exporters''.
In addition to publishing notice of the trade mission in the
Federal Register, ITA is committed to outreach and recruitment through
collaboration with organizations with ties to underserved communities.
Federal agencies that will help to support recruitment for this mission
include the U.S. Export-Import Bank and the Minority Business
Development Agency.
The mission will begin in Sao Paolo, Brazil where delegates will
participate in pre-arranged Business-to-Business (B2B) meetings with
potential partners and customers, a market briefing with speakers from
U.S. Mission to Brazil and Education sector stakeholders, as well as a
welcome reception. The market briefings will be an opportunity for
mission participants to network and to gain a deeper understanding of
the opportunities in the region. The market briefings will include
Officers and Locally Employed Specialists. The GDEI Education Trade
Mission to Brazil will take place in coordination with the EducationUSA
Roadshow, and as such the stops for both events will mirror each other
through the end of the GDEI Education Trade Mission. Timelines for
activities for each event have been coordinated to allow those
institutions that wish to do so to participate in both. The separate
events require their own registration with the U.S. Department of
Commerce and Education USA respectively. The Education Mission will
stay one day in Sao Paolo before a travel day to Fortaleza, the second
Mission Stop.
In Fortaleza, mission participants will once again have the
opportunity to participate in pre-arranged B2B meetings with potential
partners and customers, and optional cultural activities to better
understand the Northeastern Brazil region. For Mission participants who
have chosen to register for the optional/add-on Education USA Roadshow,
they will have the opportunity to join these activities and events as
well.
After Fortaleza, mission participants will travel to Salvador for
the final Mission stop. This is also the third stop for the and
optional EducationUSA Roadshow. In Salvador, participants will have B2B
meetings with potential partners and customers. The GDEI Education
Trade Mission to Brazil will conclude in Salvador.

Proposed Timetable

* Note: The final schedule and potential site visits will depend on
the availability of host government and business officials, specific
goals of mission participants, and ground transportation.

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

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tuesday, April 11................. <bullet> Trade Mission Participants
Arrive in S[atilde]o Paulo, Brazil.
<bullet> Welcome reception and
networking.
Wednesday April 12................ <bullet> Sao Paolo programming.
<bullet> Breakfast briefing.
<bullet> Business-to-Business
Meetings.
<bullet> Optional: Student Fair
(EducationUSA).
Thursday, April 13................ <bullet> Optional: School Visits
(EducationUSA).
<bullet> Business-to-Business
Meetings continued.

[[Page 7077]]

<bullet> Travel to next stop,
Fortaleza, Brazil.
<bullet> Optional: Evening Cultural
Event (No Host).
Friday, April 14.................. <bullet> Programming in Fortaleza.
<bullet> Breakfast briefing.
<bullet> Optional: School Visits
(EducationUSA).
<bullet> Business-to-Business
Meetings.
<bullet> Optional: Student Fair
(EducationUSA).
Saturday, April 15................ <bullet> Travel to next stop,
Salvador.
<bullet> Programming in Salvador.
<bullet> Luncheon and networking.
<bullet> Optional: Student Fair
(EducationUSA).
<bullet> Trade Mission Concludes.
Sunday, April 16.................. <bullet> Optional: Cultural Event
(No Host).
<bullet> Participants depart
Salvador for the United States at
their leisure or continue with
EducationUSA to Belo Horizonte.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Participation Requirements

All parties interested in participating in the trade mission must
submit an application package for consideration by the U.S. Department
of Commerce (DOC). All applicants will be evaluated on their ability to
meet the criteria as outlined below. A minimum and maximum of fifteen
institutions, Study State Consortia, and/or government education
stakeholders will be selected to participate in the mission from the
applicant pool.

Fees and Expenses

After an institution, study state trade association has been
selected to participate on the mission, a payment to the Department of
Commerce in the form of a participation fee is required. The
participation fee for the GDEI Education Trade Mission to Brazil will
be $2,450 for public/private, non-profit institution, Study State
Consortia, or other government education stakeholders; and $3,550 for
private for-profit institution. The fee for each additional institution
representative (private for-profit institution, private/public non-
profit institution, Study State Consortia, or other government
education stakeholder) is $350. Expenses for travel, lodging, meals,
and incidentals will be the responsibility of each mission participant.
Interpreter and driver services can be arranged for additional cost.
Delegation members will be able to take advantage of U.S. Embassy rates
for hotel rooms.
If and when an applicant is selected to participate on a particular
mission, a payment to the Department of Commerce in the amount of the
designated participation fee below is required. Upon notification of
acceptance to participate, those selected have 5 business days to
submit payment or the acceptance may be revoked.
Participants selected for a trade mission will be expected to pay
for the cost of personal expenses, including, but not limited to,
international travel, lodging, meals, transportation, communication,
and incidentals, unless otherwise noted. Participants will, however, be
able to take advantage of U.S. Government rates for hotel rooms. In the
event that a mission is cancelled, no personal expenses paid in
anticipation of a mission will be reimbursed. However, participation
fees for a cancelled mission will be reimbursed to the extent they have
not already been expended in anticipation of the mission.
If a visa is required to travel on a particular mission, applying
for and obtaining such a visa will be the responsibility of the mission
participant. Government fees and processing expenses to obtain such a
visa are not included in the participation fee. However, the Department
of Commerce will provide instructions to each participant on the
procedures required to obtain business visas.
Trade Mission members participate in trade missions and undertake
mission-related travel at their own risk. The nature of the security
situation in a given foreign market at a given time cannot be
guaranteed. The U.S. Government does not make any representations or
guarantees as to the safety or security of participants. The U.S.
Department of State issues U.S. Government international travel alerts
and warnings for U.S. citizens available at <a href="https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/alertswarnings.html">https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/alertswarnings.html</a>. Any question regarding
insurance coverage must be resolved by the participant and its insurer
of choice.

Timeframe for Recruitment and Applications

Mission recruitment will be conducted in an open and public manner,
including publication in the Federal Register, posting on the Commerce
Department trade mission calendar (<a href="http://export.gov/trademissions">http://export.gov/trademissions</a>) and
other internet websites, press releases to general and trade media,
direct mail, notices by industry trade associations/organizations and
other multiplier groups, and publicity at industry meetings, symposia,
conferences, and trade shows. Recruitment for the mission will begin
immediately and conclude no later than February 28, 2023. The U.S.
Department of Commerce will review applications and inform applicants
of selection decisions on a rolling basis. Applications received after
February 28, 2023, will be considered only if space and scheduling
constraints permit.

Contacts

Jennifer Woods, Project lead/Director, U.S. Commercial Service
Knoxville, (865) 338-3783, <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#de94bbb0b0b7b8bbacf089b1b1baad9eaaacbfbabbf0b9b1a8">[email&#160;protected]</a>
Rachel Alarid, Education International Trade Specialist, Industry and
Analysis, <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#491b282a21232c25670825283b202d093d3b282d2c672e263f">[email&#160;protected]</a>
Michael Marangell, Commercial Officer, U.S. Commercial Service Sao
Paolo, <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#d69bbfb5beb7b3baf89bb7a4b7b8b1b3baba96a2a4b7b2b3f8b1b9a0">[email&#160;protected]</a>
Laura Reffatti, Commercial Specialist, U.S. Commercial Service
Brasilia, <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#1458756166753a467172727560607d5460667570713a737b62">[email&#160;protected]</a>

Gemal Brangman,
Director, ITA Events Management Task Force.
[FR Doc. 2023-02150 Filed 2-1-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-P

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