SURINAME'S PROPOSAL FOR FY2008 BUSINESS FACILITATION

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 PARAMARIBO 000020

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR WHA/CAR JROSHOLT
DEPT FOR EEB/CBA DENNIS WINSTEAD

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: BEXP ABUD AMGT BTIO ECON EINV ETRD NS
SUBJECT: SURINAME'S PROPOSAL FOR FY2008 BUSINESS FACILITATION
INCENTIVE FUND

REF: 07 SECSTATE 159597

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1. (U) Summary. Embassy Paramaribo thanks EEB/CBA for continued
financial support of Post's commercial diplomacy initiatives and
appreciates the opportunity to submit a proposal for financial
assistance through the Business Facilitation Incentive Fund (BFIF).
Posts proposes funding of USD 17,750 for the following four
projects, which are listed in rank order. Paragraphs for each
project below are keyed to proposal criteria in reftel. End
Summary.


2. (U) The following are Post's four proposals listed in rank
order:

- Organize a "USA Tradeshow" in conjunction with the American
Chamber of Commerce of Suriname to promote U.S. products in the
Surinamese market, with a special focus given to marketing new U.S.
products and services.

- Conduct seminars in Paramaribo and Nieuw Nickerie with an
Export-Import Bank speaker on how to apply for credit.

- Host a digital video conference with a Department of Commerce
speaker on doing business with the USA.

- Prepare information kits on trade with Suriname (in hard copy and
electronically) for potential U.S. investors and businesspeople
interested in trade with Suriname. This will serve to advance the
National Guard's State Partnership Program between South Dakota and
Suriname.

Project I -- USA TRADE SHOW 2008: USD 5,000
--------------


3. (U) Post plans to organize our ninth annual BFIF-sponsored USA
Trade Show, to be co-coordinated with the American Chamber of
Commerce of Suriname (AmCham) for the fourth time.


A. JUSTIFICATION: The USA Trade Show is the only professional trade
show featuring U.S. products and services held in Suriname. This
will be the ninth year of this BFIF-sponsored trade show, and the
fourth time the show has been organized in conjunction with the
AmCham. The AmCham is a fairly young organization, having been in
existence only five years, and Post's objective is to gradually give
increased responsibility to the AmCham for the USA Trade Show in
order to (in the long-term) make this show a self-sustaining
project. The AmCham has already agreed to take on greater
organizational responsibility for the 2008 USA Trade Show. To
attract more participation and visitors to the 2008 event, Post will
plan fun events to draw larger crowds to the USA Trade Show and
engage in increased advertising.


B. PLANNING MILESTONES: In January, the Embassy will draft a
timeline to guide the planning process. In February, the final
breakdown of responsibilities between the Embassy and the AmCham
will be decided. Invitations to participate will be extended to the
U.S. Chambers of Commerce in Florida, South Dakota (which has links
to Suriname through the National Guard's State Partnership Program),
and Suriname, and registration for vendors will begin to take place.
In April, registered vendors will be briefed on logistics. Post
will engage in promotion of the USA Trade Fair, including
advertisements and press releases. The USA Trade Show will be held
in late May or early June 2008. (Note: Final date to be determined
in conjunction with the AmCham.)


C. ESTIMATED BUDGET: Costs estimates this year are based on
expanded advertising of the show.

Printing Brochures $1,200
Marketing promotion $1,200
Venue rental $1,500
Personnel $ 600
Miscellaneous cost $ 500
--------------
Total $5,000


D. COST LEVERAGING: This year, over half of the costs will once
again be paid for by BFIF-funds. In past years, the AmCham also
provided funds to support the Trade Show, which were used for
advertising for vendors to participate in the show, hiring a
contractor to decorate the venue, and hiring entertainment for the
attendees of the show. This year, the AmCham will provide their
cost-sharing budget once their new board convenes in February 2008.
We will also discuss with the AmCham proposals to generate revenues
from other activities to increase their organization's income in
2008 so that they can take on increased financial responsibilities
for the USA Trade Shows in future years.


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E. PERFORMANCE METRIC: Post will measure success by the feedback
received from participating companies and attendees. This year,
Post also will solicit feedback from "customers" who attend the USA
Tradeshow. Post will also conduct its own assessment of the
AmCham's performance in organizing the USA Trade Show and make an
assessment on what greater responsibilities should be taken on the
following year.

F: POINTS OF CONTACT: Please refer to Paragraph 6 below.

Project II -- EXPORT-IMPORT BANK SEMINAR: USD 5,750
--------------


4. (U) Post proposes to hold an Export-Import Bank Seminar for the
Suriname business community in Paramaribo and in the Nieuw Nickerie.


JUSTIFICATION: Business entrepreneurs in Suriname have expressed
interest to us in the services Export-Import Bank offers. Suriname
has been eligible for assistance from the Export-Import Bank only
since 2006, so the business community is not yet familiar with the
procedures of applying for credit. Credit from the bank would
increase resources to fuel U.S.-Suriname trade. An effective
speaker would explain the procedures for Surinamese businesses to
implement so that they can take advantage of credit the
Export-Import Bank provides.

PLANNING MILESTONES: In February, Post will work with EEB and the
Export-Import Bank to identify a qualified speaker for the seminar.
In April, Post would advertise the seminar with the target audience,
namely, the business community, the Suriname-American Chamber of
Commerce, officials of the Ministry of Trade and Industry,
commercial banks and the news media. The seminars would be held in
late April or early May in Paramaribo and Nieuw Nickerie.


C. Estimated Budget for Paramaribo:

Lodging (3 days @ 120) $ 360
M&IE (3 days @ 67) $ 268
Travel $2,400
Conference room $ 500
Advertisement $ 300
Fee $ 500
Miscellaneous (supplies) $ 172
--------------
$4,500

Estimated budget for Nieuw Nickerie
Lodging (1 day @ 120) $120
M&IE (1day @67) $ 67
Travel $500
Conference room $500
Miscellaneous (supplies) $ 63
--------------
$1,250
--------------
Grand Total $5,750


D. COST LEVERAGING: Post will see if Export-Import Bank can provide
for some of the lodging and MI&E costs.


E. PERFORMANCE METRIC: Post will survey participants in the seminar
on whether or not this answered their questions, and if they are
likely to apply to the Export-Import Bank for credit in the future.
Post will also ask them to suggest seminar topics for future years.
Post will follow up with participants after the seminar to determine
how many applied for credit, or started the process, and how many of
those were successful.


F. Points of Contact: Paragraph 6 below.

Project III -- Department of Commerce Digital Video Conference on
Doing Business with the USA: USD 1,000
--------------


4. (U) Embassy proposes organizing a seminar "Doing Business with
the USA" to expand U.S trade and investment with Suriname.


A. JUSTIFICATION: The seminar will serve as a unique opportunity to
reach out businessmen interested in the U.S. market. Embassy will
request assistance from Department of Commerce in providing a
speaker to this event.


B. PLANNING MILESTONES: Planning to identify a qualified speaker(s)
will take place as soon as BFIF Funds are approved. A list of
companies to be invited will be drafted in June. In August, the
seminar will be held.


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C. ESTIMATED BUDGET:
Printing brochures $ 500
Communication charges $ 500
--------------
Total $1,000


D. COST LEVERAGING: No cost leveraging has been agreed upon at this
time. Post could propose to the new AmCham Board that we co-host
this event as one of their breakfast series events. If that is the
case, non-AmCham members would be charged a fee for the breakfast.



E. PERFORMANCE METRICS: The Embassy expects an increase in inquiries
by local businesses about U.S. products and services, which we can
track through our Political-Economic Section.


F. POINTS OF CONTACT: Please see Paragraph 6 below.

Project IV -- Information Kits on Trade with Suriname for U.S.
Businesses: USD 6,000
--------------


5. (U) Post plans to prepare information kits on trade with Suriname
use by interested U.S. businesses. The kit would include a listing
of Surinamese companies that import/export with the United States
(no such list exists).


A. JUSTIFICATION: As part of the National Guard's State Partnership
Program, South Dakota and Suriname are expanding their ties in a
number of areas. The South Dakota National Guard has already
brought several delegations, including business people, to Suriname.
The preparation of information and market assessment kits about
Suriname (hard copies and electronic) for distribution by the
Embassy and the South Dakota National Guard to interested U.S.
business people would assist in promoting business ties.


B. PLANNING MILESTONES: Post would collect data from USG sources
and from Government of Suriname sources in order to put together a
handbook on doing business with Suriname after BFIF funding
approved. Post would advertise for Surinamese businesses to pay a
small fee ($5) to be included in the kit in May. The kit (250
printed hard copies, 250 electronic CD ROM copies) would be complete
and ready for distribution in July.


C. ESTIMATED BUDGET:
CD Roms (250 @ $0.90) $ 225
Burn CD ROMs(250 @ $1.50) $ 375
Hard copies(250 @ $ 18) $4,500
Professional Layout $1,000
--------------
$6,100
Minus fee 20 companies(@ $5.00) $ 100
--------------
Total $6,000


D. COST LEVERAGING: South Dakota National Guard has been sponsoring
delegations from South Dakota to Suriname, and from Suriname to
South Dakota, several times a year. These kits would augment their
existing program as they could be provided to interested South
Dakota businesses. We would request that companies interested in
being listed in the kit pay a small fee for their inclusion in the
list, or a larger fee to include an advertisement. We would note
that the USG does not recommend any specific businesses and that
those included have paid a fee for their inclusion. For
conservative budget estimate purposes only, we have assumed in the
budget that twenty companies will pay the $5 fee for inclusion.
Naturally, we expect a much larger number of companies to be
interested in being included in this listing.

E: PERFORMANCE METRICS: Post economic officer and commercial
assistant are assisting South Dakota businesses and the South Dakota
National Guard in making links to Surinamese businesses. This kit
will result in faster response times by the Embassy commercial
assistant to U.S. commercial inquiries.

F: POINTS OF CONTACT: See Paragraph 6 below.


6. (U) POINTS OF CONTACT:

Geneve Menscher, Political/Economic Section Chief
Tel: 011-597-478-049
Fax: 011-597-420-800
Email: menscherge@state.gov

Judith Dijks, Commercial Assistant
Tel: 011-597-425-690
Email: dijksjb@state.gov


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SCHREIBER HUGHES