TALLINN'S BFIF FY07 PROPOSAL

UNCLAS TALLINN 000024

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EB/CBA AND EUR/NB
HELSINKI FOR SCO MCCLEARY

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ETRD BEXP AMGT ABUD BTIO EINV EN
SUBJECT: TALLINN'S BFIF FY07 PROPOSAL

REF: 2006 STATE 189849


1. Summary: Embassy Tallinn proposes four FY07 projects
for the Business Facilitation Incentive Fund. All four
projects are integral parts of Embassy Tallinn's
relationship with its FCS partnership post in Helsinki,
Finland. The first is a summer 2007 FSI Commercial
Tradecraft training program for Embassy Tallinn's
Economic/Commercial/EU FSN or Economic Officer. The
second is sending Tallinn's Economic/Commercial/EU FSN
to the FCS Office in Helsinki for two days to shadow
staff there. The third project is organizing an
automotive catalogue show at the end of April. The
fourth is a Commercial Best Practices meeting together
with Embassy Riga and Embassy Vilnius. Post requests a
total of USD 9,600 in BFIF funds. End Summary.


2. Proposed project - FSI Commercial Tradecraft
training for our Economic/Commercial/EU FSN or Economic
Officer coupled with consultations with key partners in
Washington, DC.

A) Justification: FSI's Commercial Tradecraft training
(PE125) will enhance Pol/Econ section staff's ability to
be responsive and effective in providing assistance to
U.S. businesses seeking advice, information and support
in the pursuit of trade and investment opportunities in
Estonia. Through discussions and case studies led by
successful private-sector exporters and experienced USG
commercial specialists, participants learn how to set up
and manage effective trade promotion programs and assist
U.S. firms in seeking market access, developing markets
and participating in major projects. The course
emphasizes how posts such as Tallinn face the challenges
of trade promotion without having a Department of
Commerce presence in-country. Because the training is in
Washington, the trainee will also have an opportunity to
expand contacts in DOC, TDA and the Estonian Embassy.

B) Planning Milestones:

February 2007: Nominate Tallinn FSN or Economic Officer
for the FSI course.
February 2007: BFIF money is awarded.
July 23-27 2007: Tallinn FSN or Economic Officer
attends training and holds consultations in Washington.
August 2007: Post sends narrative of project and
confirms funding expenditures.

C) Performance Metrics: The FSN or Economic Officer
will be better able to counsel and assist U.S.
businesses in Estonia on commercial matters. Post's
Political/Economic Officer will present useful
information from the training to the American Chamber of
Commerce board of directors, who will then transmit
relevant information to over 100 business and individual
members of the chamber.

D) Estimated Costs: FSI and Embassy Tallinn will share
the costs.
BFIF funds: USD 3,800 for airfare and M&IE.
FSI funds: FSI will fund all training costs,
hotel/NFATC bus transportation.
Embassy Tallinn will pay local transportation costs for
consultations.

E) Point of Contact: Political/Economic Officer Robert
Hollister, ph: 372-668-8107, fax: 372-668-8259, email:
hollisterrm@state.gov.

F) Leveraging of Funding: Yes, Post is leveraging
funding from FSI.

G) Outcome/Success Criteria: The training will be
successful if the Economic/Commercial/EU Assistant or
Economic Officer provides useful information from the
training to U.S. businesses, the embassy community, the
FCS Regional Office in Helsinki and the American Chamber
of Commerce in Estonia.

H) Follow-up Strategy: The Economic/Commercial/EU FSN
or Economic Officer will build on the skills learned in
the training through frequent, regular contact with the
regional FCS office in Helsinki.


3. Proposed project - Economic/Commercial/EU FSN
shadows counterparts in the FCS Regional Office in
Helsinki for three days.

A) Justification:

In the three years since FCS closed its offices in the
Baltic countries, Tallinn and FCS in Helsinki have built
a successful partnership to provide fee-based commercial
services and continue supporting U.S. businesses. While
the Economic/Commercial/EU FSN has contact with the FCS
in Helsinki, she has not had any training in new FCS
services, standards and other FCS tools, which could
generate revenue for Post. Three days of shadowing the FCS
staff in Finland would be excellent practical training
for her in the changes at FCS since 2004.

B) Planning Milestones:

February 2007: BFIF money is awarded.
March 2007: Post coordinates hotel and other logistic
details.
May 2007: Economic/Commercial/EU FSN goes to Helsinki.
August 2007: Post sends final BFIF report on performance
metrics.

C) Performance Metrics: Implementation at post of and
revenue generated from new FCS tools and programs to
provide better service to U.S. businesses.

D) Estimated Costs: Transportation: USD 500, Hotel,
Meals and Incidental Expenses: USD 900, Ground
Transportation USD 100. Total Requested: USD 1,500.

E) Point of Contact: Political/Economic Officer Robert
Hollister, ph: 372-668-8107, fax: 372-668-8259, email:
hollisterrm@state.gov.

F) Leveraging of Funding? Yes, Post will leverage BFIF
funding with FCS Trust Funds

G) Outcome/Success Criteria? Yes, see paragraph C
above.

H) Follow-up Strategy: Economic/Commercial/EU FSN will
maintain regular contact with the FCS Helsinki trade
specialists, improved by the on-site experience gained
from this training and consultations.


4. Proposed project - U.S. Automotive Industry
catalogue show at the Estonian Hot Rod Association and
Ford Mustang Club's two-day American Day event at the
end of April 2007.

A) Justification: The Estonian Hot Rod Association and
the Ford Mustang Club in Tallinn have organized an
"American Day" event for the past two years. The number
of companies who would like to be involved, as well the
number of visitors attending the event, has increased
considerably. The show is free for visitors. Event
organizers came to us last year asking that the Embassy
be more visible, and post's PAO opened the show. This
year post would like to use the show to promote U.S.
automotive products, as well as also post's commercial
services for local companies interested in partnering
with U.S. firms. The BFIF funding would help us to rent
a space at the event to set up a catalogue show and an
FCS information table.

B) Planning Milestones:

February 2007: BFIF money is awarded.
February 2007: Post contacts DOC Automotive Team to
order catalogues.
End of April 2007: Catalogue show during "American Day"
event.
August 2007: Post sends final BFIF report on performance
metrics.

C) Performance Metrics: The number of companies who send
their catalogues to Estonia and the number of local
companies that contact the U.S. companies following the
event.

D) Estimated Costs: Total Requested: USD 1,000. Booth
space rental: 1,500 USD for 15 square meters at the
event. Should there be any change in the event, post
would use the funding to rent show space in Motorex
2007, which is the Estonian automotive trade show,
taking place on May 10-13, 2007 in Tallinn. The average
price of booth rental space at trade shows in Tallinn is
approximately 100 USD per square meter, including taxes.

E) Point of Contact: Political/Economic Officer Robert
Hollister, ph: 372-668-8107, fax: 372-668-8259, email:
hollisterrm@state.gov.

F) Leveraging of Funding? Yes, Post will leverage BFIF
funding with FCS Catalogue Show fees.

G) Outcome/Success Criteria? Yes, see paragraph C
above.

H) Follow-up Strategy: Yes, Economic/Commercial/EU FSN
will follow up with trade leads and possible Gold Key
services and Single Company Promotions developed at this
event.


5. Proposed project - Funding for a Commercial Best
Practices meeting with the other Baltic posts.

A) Justification:

Since the closing of the FCS office in the Baltics, all
three posts have introduced different ways to serve U.S.
commercial interests. For many U.S. companies, looking
for FCS services in all three countries, those
differences have been somewhat confusing. Post proposes
a Baltic commercial workshop to coordinate offered
services and standards. Participants would include
commercial FSNs and FCS commercial officers, responsible
for partnership posts, and Economic Officers at
posts. The last such meeting was in Finland in June 2005
and was very productive. Post proposes to build on its
success and refresh contacts between posts, each of
which have had staff turnover. While the workshop could
take place in any of the three capitals, post is
requesting funding in case Lithuania is successful in
organizing an AmCham best practices conference in early
fall in Vilnius. Holding the Baltic workshop in
conjunction with this conference would be an excellent
opportunity to give the workshop broader scope,
because of the presence of AmCham representatives (note
that in Latvia FCS services are currently outsourced to
the AmCham in Riga).

B) Planning Milestones:

February 2007: BFIF money is awarded.
June 2007: Post coordinates travel and other logistic
details with other Baltic posts.
September 2007: Economic/Commercial/EU FSN and Economic
Officer go to Vilnius.
August 2007: Post sends final BFIF report on performance
metrics.

C) Performance Metrics: To offer U.S. businesses a more
simplified approach to the Baltic market through FCS
services. Updating and harmonizing the information on
the BuyUSA Baltics website.

D) Estimated Costs: Per person: Transportation:
USD 650, Hotel, Meals and Incidental Expenses: USD 650,
Ground Transportation USD 100. Total Requested for two
persons: USD 2,800.

E) Point of Contact: Political/Economic Officer Robert
Hollister, ph: 372-668-8107, fax: 372-668-8259, email:
hollisterrm@state.gov.

F) Leveraging of Funding? Yes, Post will leverage BFIF
funding with Post funds and FCS Trust Funds.

G) Outcome/Success Criteria? Yes, see paragraph C
above.

H) Follow-up Strategy: The most effective follow-up
strategy and specific actions will be determined at the
Commercial Best Practices meeting.