CYPRUS' PROPOSAL FOR BFIF FUNDS

UNCLAS NICOSIA 000056 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR EB/CBA (DENNIS A. WINSTEAD),EB/EX AND EUR/SE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: BEXP ABUD AMGT ETRD ECON EINV BTIO CY SUBJECT: CYPRUS' PROPOSAL FOR BFIF FUNDS REF: STATE 189849 ¶1. Summary: Embassy Nicosia requests BFIF funding to: 1) enable interoperability with Department of Commerce computer systems. Part of the funding would cover travel expenses for the FCS Athens computer expert to come to Cyprus to connect Nicosia to the FCS computer system and train Embassy personnel on its use; 2) send two FSNs to FCS Athens for training/consultations and to inform the American business community in Greece about business opportunities in Cyprus; 3) bring two FCS personnel from Athens to Cyprus to hold "Doing Business in the U.S." seminars on both sides of the island; 4) send Cyprus Tourism Organization employees and provisional license holders for new golf courses to the U.S. to meet with several key U.S. businesses active in the design, development, and/or supply of golf courses; and 5) send the new econ/commercial officer expected this summer to visit FCS Athens and FCS Ankara for consultations and to explore ways to enhance cooperation. End Summary. ¶2. A) Embassy Nicosia requests funding to enable the FCS Athens computer expert to come to Cyprus for three days to install the necessary software to link the Commercial section in Nicosia to the FCS computer system and to train Nicosia commercial staff on its operation. (Note: We received a BFIF grant in FY 2006 for this purpose but were required to give it back when approval from FCS HQ to connect Cyprus to the FCS network could not be obtained). a) Justification: We currently do not have access to any of the Commerce Department computer systems, limiting our ability to promote U.S. commercial interests and provide services to U.S. businesses. Interoperability will provide us with significantly more tools to support U.S. business. It will also enable us to work more closely with our FCS colleagues in D.C., Athens, Ankara and the U.S. Export Assistance Centers (USEACS) throughout the U.S. to promote business opportunities. Experience has shown that because we are not on Commerce's computer network, we are not on the radar screen of most USEACs. b) Anticipated outcomes: We will further advance our services and capabilities through our connection to the DOC systems. Our exposure to U.S. business will increase and we will be better able to promote opportunities to the U.S. business community in a timely fashion. (Currently, we depend on FCS Athens to post our Trade Lead Reports, which causes unavoidable delays.) This would also cut down on FCS Athens' work load by enabling us to send out trade leads and other documents directly rather than having FCS Athens duplicate our work by requiring it to enter our reports into the FCS system. c) Estimated costs: Ticket: $480; Lodging: 3 x 217 = $651.00; M & IE: 3 x 110 = $330; provision for the necessary software purchase: $1,000. Total estimated cost: $2,461. d) Point of contact: If you wish to get more information on this project, please contact the Commercial Specialist, Ms. Ephie-Yvonnie Charalambidou at charalambidouey@state.gov or +357-22-393362 or Economic/Commercial Officer Mr. Michael S. Dixon at dixonms@state.gov or at +357-22-393359. e) Neither Embassy nor FCS Athens, our partner post, has funds to procure software or to bring in FCS Athens personnel. We do have a computer that can be used should it be needed. We can also finance the high-speed connection to the internet using the money received through commercial connections. f) Success criteria will include better service to U.S. business and quicker placement of trade leads. ¶3. B) Post requests funding to send two FSNs to FCS Athens for additional training and to advertise to the American business community in Greece business opportunities in Cyprus. a) Justification: Additional training in Athens presents the opportunity to train the FSNs on all DoC systems as well as to further network with the American business community in Greece to apprise them of business opportunities in Cyprus. It will also help create further synergies between FCS Athens and the Commercial office in Nicosia. b) Anticipated outcomes: The visit will ensure that post is fully able to take advantage of DoC connectivity requested in paragraph 2 and will increase the exports of U.S. products and services to Cyprus. We also expect the visit will increase the number of U.S. firms participating in the U.S. pavilion at the Cyprus International Fair. c) Estimated Costs: 2 x 2,500 = 5,000 d) Point of contact: If you wish to get more information on this project, please contact Commercial Specialist Ms. Ephie-Yvonnie Charalambidou at charalambidouey@state.gov or +357-22-393362 or Economic/Commercial Officer Mr. Michael S. Dixon at dixonms@state.gov or +357-22-393359. e) Success criteria: FSNs are fully proficient in accessing and using all DoC systems available to post either now or in the near future and participation in the U.S. pavilion at the Cyprus International Fair increases by 10%. f) Post will ensure that the FSNs remain adequately trained on the DoC systems and that cooperation with FCS Athens and the U.S. business community in Greece continues. ¶4. C) Post requests funding to host two "Doing Business in the U.S." seminars in Cyprus - one in the Government-controlled area and one in the area administered by Turkish Cypriots. Funds would cover expenses to bring two FCS personnel from our partner post in Athens for three days to hold the seminars; their lodging expenses; reserving the halls in both communities; and for the printing of flyers and invitations. a) Justification: Our last "Doing Business in the U.S." seminar was held in November, 2004. Since then, a lot has changed in the economy, especially in the area administered by Turkish Cypriots. Now would be a good time to remind businesspeople in both communities of the opportunities and benefits of doing business with the U.S. b) Anticipated outcome: An increase in exports to both the government-controlled area and the area administered by Turkish Cypriots. c) Estimated costs: Ticket costs to fly roundtrip from Athens to Cyprus - approximately USD480 per person (480x2=960); Per Diem, per day: USD327 per person (327x3=981x2=1,962); Halls reservation: USD500; printing of invitations, flyers, seminar materials: USD300. Total estimated cost for a three-day trip/seminar: $3,722. d) Post point of contact: If you wish to get more information on this project, please contact Commercial Specialist Ms. Ephie-Yvonnie Charalambidou charalambidouey@state.gov or +357-22-393362 or Economic/Commercial Officer Mr. Michael S. Dixon at dixonms@state.gov or +357-22-393359. ¶5. D) Embassy Nicosia requests funding to send Cyprus Tourism Organization (CTO) employees and holders of provisional licenses for the construction of new golf courses in Cyprus to the U.S. (3-4 people total) to visit and meet with several key U.S. businesses involved with the golfing industry. The CTO is a governmental organization. The provisional license holders are all private companies. a) Justification: The golfing sector in Cyprus is rapidly growing with the blessings of the Cyprus Government and getting key people to the U.S. at this time would help give U.S. companies a competitive advantage over their European and Asian rivals. Cyprus currently has only four golf courses, but plans to permit the construction of another 14. Provisional licenses for six of the 14 were recently granted. The UK Commercial Office has already funded the travel of one of the license holders to the UK to meet with businesses involved in the golf industry there. b) Anticipated outcome: Several key contracts for the U.S. golf industry in the design and construction of new golf courses in Cyprus. c) Estimated costs: $10,000 to include air travel and accommodation for 3 people for 5 days. d) Post point of contact: If you wish to get more information on this project, please contact Commercial Specialist Ms. Ephie-Yvonnie Charalambidou at charalambidouey@state.gov or +357-22-393362 or Economic/Commercial Officer Mr. Michael S. Dixon at dixonms@state.gov or +357-22-393359. ¶6. E) Post would appreciate funding to send the new econ/commercial officer expected to arrive in Cyprus this summer to visit FCS Athens and FCS Ankara for consultations and to explore ways to enhance our cooperation. a) Justification: over the last two years Embassy Nicosia has created a very productive working relationship with both our partner post, FCS Athens, and with FCS Ankara. A visit from the new econ/commercial officer would help maintain this relationship and help the new officer get up to speed on commercial issues. The current economic-commercial officer will be leaving this summer. The economic-commercial section in Nicosia is a one-person post. b) Anticipated outcome: Continued strong cooperation between FCS Athens, FCS Ankara, and the Commercial section in Embassy Nicosia. A new Economic Commercial officer who is quickly up to speed on commercial matters. c) Estimated costs: $3,000 to include air travel and accommodation for 5 days. d) Post point of contact: If you wish to get more information on this project, please contact Commercial Specialist Ms. Ephie-Yvonnie Charalambidou at charalambidouey@state.gov or +357-22-393362 or Economic/Commercial Officer Mr. Michael S. Dixon at dixonms@state.gov or +357-22-393359. SCHLICHER