NON-FCS COMMERCIAL PLATFORM: MANAMA INPUT

UNCLAS MANAMA 001463

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EB:CFORD, EB/CBA:DWINSTEAD, NEA:SFRANCESKI,
NEA/ARPI: PHEFFERNAN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: BEXP EINV ECON AMGT AODE BA
SUBJECT: NON-FCS COMMERCIAL PLATFORM: MANAMA INPUT

REF: STATE 174107


1. Embassy Manama appreciates this opportunity to comment on
the Department's efforts to better support non-FCS posts. We
believe that non-FCS posts would benefit both from increased
access to Commerce information and accounting systems and
additional training opportunities.


2. Embassy Manama offers the following suggestions:

-- Full access to Commerce's e-menu finance system. Without
full access Embassy Manama has encountered difficulty when
charging fees for services provided to U.S. businesses.
Currently Manama is authorized to charge for services
according to standard USDOC practice. Unfortunately, fiscal
data still must be entered by FCS Dhahran -- adding to
Dhahran's workload -- while not reducing Manama's. While FCS
posts are, and should remain, a ready resource for non-FCS
posts, the lack of access to those systems has hindered
Manama's ability to provide services efficiently. In
addition, post has encountered difficulties when receiving
funds obligated in e-menu rather than by cable.

-- Additional training for officers assigned to non-FCS
posts. Of particular interest, the "nuts and bolts" of
required reporting including how to use the Commerce system
to track services provided.

-- Increase collaboration among regional non-FCS posts. In
particular, developing joint projects, working together to
represent U.S. business at regional industry conferences,
establishing regional "best practices."
MONROE