Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08MINSK34
2008-01-18 18:14:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Minsk
Cable title:
BFIF PROPOSAL FROM BELARUS
how-toVZCZCXYZ0008 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHSK #0034/01 0181814 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 181814Z JAN 08 FM AMEMBASSY MINSK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6824 INFO RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC RUEHKV/AMEMBASSY KYIV 0093
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
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
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