FY07 BFIF REPORTING FROM EMBASSY BISHKEK

UNCLAS BISHKEK 001183 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR SCA/CEN (GEHRENBECK),EEB/CBA FOR WINSTEAD E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: BEXP BTIO ECON ETRD EINV AFIN ADPM KG SUBJECT: FY07 BFIF REPORTING FROM EMBASSY BISHKEK REF: A. STATE 87036 ¶B. STATE 37429 ¶C. BISHKEK 113 ¶1. Per reftel A request, Embassy Bishkek hereby submits the following report regarding the use of Business Facilitation Incentive Fund (BFIF) resources in 2007 in the Kyrgyz Republic. ¶2. The total amount of BFIF support provided for use by Embassy Bishkek was $3,100.00. The total amount spent for BFIF-approved activities was $2,669.47. Receipts for all items have been forwarded by e-mail to EEB/CBA's Dennis Winstead on September 25, 2007. ¶3. The first BFIF-supported activity was the Embassy's "Outreach to Kyrgyz Businessmen" BFIF contribution: $900.00 Amount used: $316.13 Expense breakdown: $80.00 to purchase mailing list $197.37 to print materials for mass mailing $38.76 for postage Budgetary Discussion: The requested $900.00 was included in the total $3,100.00 of BFIF funding provided for both activities in the Kyrgyz Republic. As only $316.13 was used for this first component, $583.87 remained. A portion of this remainder was rolled over for the second component as described below. Event Discussion: BFIF support permitted the Embassy to obtain access to the Kyrgyz Union of Entrepreneurs' membership database and establish new contacts and leads among their members for the Embassy's commercial assistant. Responses generated from this outreach have generated potential leads for the export of U.S.-sourced jewelry, veterinary products and cardboard processing equipment. This work also served as a foundation for participants to the September 10 "Doing Business with the USA" seminar described below. ¶4. The second BFIF-supported activity was the September 10 "Doing Business with the USA" Seminar BFIF contribution: $2,200.00 Amount used: $2,353.34 Expense breakdown: $925.86 for translation services $432.99 for advertising in newspapers $949.48 for binders, handouts and other seminar materials $45.01 for computer/internet services Budgetary Discussion: Embassy expected that this event would require $2,200.00 in BFIF support. This event, which followed the first activity described above, also used a small portion of the remaining funds from that first activity. However, of the total $3,100.00 available, Embassy used $2,669.47 of BFIF support for the two approved activities. The Department of Commerce covered the conference facility rental expense, and the American Chamber of Commerce provided personnel to help run the event. Event Discussion: The "Doing Business with the USA" seminar attracted approximately 220 participants, mostly Kyrgyz businesspeople. The event combined speakers from the U.S. Departments of State, Commerce and Defense as well as USAID with local speakers from the American Chamber of Commerce. The U.S. speakers identified areas for potential trade and business activity with the United States. The local speakers discussed international contracts, trade finance and shipping while other local firms discussed their international business experiences. Over 90% of the firms attending the seminar were new contacts to the Embassy's commercial section. As their attendance (and registration forms) indicated their interest in commercial opportunities with the United States, the seminar generated a significant database of companies for commercial outreach. With time, we will be able to better gauge business leads and trade deals that emerged from this seminar. Given the positive feedback and good press coverage of the event, this BFIF-supported event has generated a solid foundation for post to pursue commercial diplomacy. ¶5. Embassy appreciates BFIF support for these activities. YOVANOVITCH