TALLINN'S BFIF FY07 REPORT

UNCLAS TALLINN 000537 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR EB/CBA AND EUR/NB REF A) STATE 37473 B) STATE 87036 E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON ETRD BEXP AMGT ABUD AFIN EINV EN SUBJECT: TALLINN'S BFIF FY07 REPORT ¶1. Summary: Embassy Tallinn received USD 2,500 from the Business Facilitation Incentive Fund in 2007 for FSC Helsinki Shadow Training and U.S. Automobile Industry promotion project. Post has used 959.67 for the U.S. car promotion project. Helsinki Shadow training is scheduled in late September or early October. There is USD 1,540.33 left to complete that project. End Summary. ¶2. Post received 1,000 USD for 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. After receiving the funding, Post sent info immediately to the FCS Automotive Team about the event asking them to send catalogues. Due to the time constraints (one month) only a few team members were able to contribute to the Tallinn event. Post pulled together materials also about upcoming trade shows in U.S., information on Embassy services for local companies, industry information, and other related materials. The embassy's Public Affairs Office (PAO) contributed to the entertainment portion of the program as well. The Show took place on April 28-29. Attendance was unfortunately depressed by the events two days prior, on April 26-27, in which there were riots in the center of Tallinn following the removal of a Soviet-era statue. As a result of this unrest, the city government had cautioned people strongly to avoid the site of the statue, which was three blocks from the Hot Rod Association's event. Nevertheless, Post feels that participation in this event was positive, as it allowed the establishment of closer ties with key local industry contacts. Post receives many information requests from the U.S. related to the auto industry, and it is very important to have reliable contacts on the local market. Also, Post received many requests from the U.S. companies who did not send their catalogues, but were interested in more specific market information. They would not have considered Estonia if the Team members had not contacted them about the show. Fiscal data for the American Car project is as follows: MO: 1970113-1005-700153-050500-2251-2589 Appropriation: 1970113 Obligation: 700153 Org Code: 050500 Function: 2251 BOC: 2589 Booth charge including services and VAT 18%: 1,132.11 USD Collection of VAT -172.44 Total expenditure: 959.67 ¶3. Back-up documentation on expenditures will be faxed to Gale Gray, EB/EX, as requested in Ref A after completion of the FCS Helsinki Shadow project. ¶4. Point of Contact at Post: Political/Economic Officer Robert Hollister, ph: 372-668-8107, hollisterrm@state.gov. Post appreciates the support of EB/CBA and EB/EX for these projects. PHILLIPS