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