BFIF PROPOSAL FROM BELARUS

UNCLAS MINSK 000034 SIPDIS SIPDIS EB/CBA-DENNIS WINSTEAD E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: BEXP ABUD BTIO AMGT EAGR EINV ETRD BO SUBJECT: BFIF PROPOSAL FROM BELARUS REF: 07 STATE 159597 ¶1. Embassy Minsk applies for funding under the Business Facilitation Incentive Fund for two proposals. First, post proposes a catalog show at an agricultural products exposition. Second, post proposes accompanying an International Buyers Program (IBP) delegation to CONEXPO in Las Vegas, March 11-15. The combined cost of both proposals totals $2,556. Proposal information is keyed to points in reftel paragraphs 16 and 17. Agricultural Products Catalog Show -------------- ¶2. Information keyed to questions in reftel paragraphs 16 and 17. A) Brief justification: Several venues host regular expositions in Belarus, presenting a possible venue for U.S. companies to market their wares to local buyers. Post believes that staging one successful catalog show could demonstrate the potential for sales to other firms, thus allowing post to participate in catalog shows on a fee-for-service basis in the future. Post's Pol/Econ FSN covering commercial affairs would travel to our partnership post, FCS Kyiv, to shadow their catalog show at the AgriHort 08/UkrProdMash 08 Exposition. The trip would have the side benefit of providing further face-to-face contact with the partnership post. Post would then put on a catalog show in Minsk at the BelAgro exposition scheduled for June 10-13. B) Planning milestones: February 12-14: Dmitry Semenov visit FCS Kyiv during AgriHort 08/UkrProdMash 08 catalog show. March: Identify likely participants in BelAgro catalog show. April: Contact likely participants. June 10-13: BelAgro catalog show. August: Follow up to determine sales made as a result of catalog show. C) Estimated cost: $1,520 $1,220 for transportation, two nights lodging and 3 days M&IE in Kyiv. $300 miscellaneous costs for exposition (poster preparation, stand decoration). D) Points of contact: Nathan Lane, Deputy Pol/Econ Chief Tel. 375-17-210-12-83 IVG 577-4434 lanenp@state.gov Dmitry Semenov, Pol/Econ Assistant Tel. 375-17-210-12-83 IVG 577-4556 semenovdv@state.gov E) Funding from other sources: The Deputy Director of Minsk Expo has agreed to provide the Embassy free space at the BelAgro exposition thanks to post's work to help its contacts register for CONEXPO (see 
below). Also, if possible FSN will transit with officers going on other business to or from Kyiv to reduce travel costs. F) Success criteria: Post will consider the event successful if it serves to raise the awareness of American brands in Belarus. In the long-run this would be demonstrated by sales to exposition attendees. G) Follow up strategy: Post will follow up with firms who take catalogs at the show to determine whether they eventually purchase products from participating U.S. companies. If participants make sales based upon the show, post will use the information to demonstrate to other firms the value of participating in catalog shows in Belarus. Post hopes to eventually finance further catalog show participation on a fee-for-service basis. International Buyer Programs (IBPs) -------------- ¶3. Information keyed to questions in reftel paragraphs 16 and 17. A) Brief justification: Pol/Econ Assistant Dmitry Semenov has a successful track record accompanying IBP delegations to the United States. Last year a new restaurant in Minsk purchased much of its interior from a U.S. company it made contact with at a 2005 IBP that Dmitry accompanied. The construction industry in Belarus is booming. Dmitry could once again help support expanding U.S. exports by accompanying an IBP delegation to CONEXPO in Las Vegas, March 11-15. B) Planning milestones: January: Contact potential IBP program participants. This is underway and 14 persons have preliminarily agreed to attend and another large construction equipment firm in Minsk is considering attendance. February: Brief IBP participants and register them for the trade shows. March 10-16: Accompany delegation to CONEXPO. June: Follow up with IBP participants to determine whether they made or intend to make additional purchases from U.S. companies represented at the trade show. C) Estimated cost: $1,036 for lodging and M&IE in Las Vegas. D) Points of contact: Nathan Lane, Deputy Pol/Econ Chief Tel. 375-17-210-12-83 IVG 577-4434 lanenp@state.gov Dmitry Semenov, Pol/Econ Assistant Tel. 375-17-210-12-83 IVG 577-4556 semenovdv@state.gov E) Funding from other sources: The travel agency arranging for participant transportation to Las Vegas will provide a complementary ticket for FSN Dmitry Semenov. F) Success criteria: The trip would be a complete success if buyers on the trip purchase U.S. products. G) Follow up strategy: Pol/Econ Assistant would follow up with participants to learn of any purchases made as a result of the trip. Moore