BFIF FY-09 PROJECTS IN TRINIDAD & TOBAGO

UNCLAS PORT OF SPAIN 000295

STATE FOR EEB/CBA WINSTEAD AND EEB/EX
SANTO DOMINGO FOR FCS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: BEXP BTIO CVIS ABUD TD
SUBJECT: BFIF FY-09 PROJECTS IN TRINIDAD & TOBAGO

REF: (A) 09 STATE 071530


1. SUMMARY: Embassy Port of Spain thanks EEB/CBA for providing BFIF
funding to improve Post's commercial training and outreach. To date
in FY-09, Post used BFIF funding to allow the Political-Economic
Officer and Economic Assistant to attend commercial training in
Santo Domingo. Knowledge gained from training enabled the Economic
Section to better promote Embassy commercial services and assist
U.S. companies in Trinidad & Tobago, both at the Trade and
Investment Convention (TIC) and in other fora. BFIF funding also
allowed Embassy Port of Spain to hire additional manpower for the
TIC in support of a more robust catalogue show. END SUMMARY.

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PROGRAMMATIC OUTCOMES
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2. The DOC - DOS MOU took effect in early 2009, extending Commercial
services responsibilities to Post's Economic Section. In July 2009,
Embassy Port of Spain's Political and Economic sections were
combined, with the Economic Chief position being eliminated. The
reduction of total staff members in the two combined sections will
impact our ability to handle commercial services going forward.


3. Armed with knowledge about commercial services gained through the
training in Santo Domingo, Pol-EconOff, together with the Econ
Assistant, coordinated the U.S. Embassy booth at the 2009 TIC, the
largest annual business-to-business event in Trinidad. In this
extremely successful outreach exercise, the Political-Economic
Section informed T&T and Caribbean businesses about the commercial
services that the Embassy provides, answered numerous commercial
inquiries, and expanded contacts among local firms already
distributing U.S. products. At the booth, staff promoted the
exports of several U.S. companies recruited with assistance from
U.S. Export Assistance Centers and generated 49 export leads. BFIF
funding enabled the Political-Economic Section to increase the level
of coverage at TIC, expand the catalogue show, and follow up on each
lead.


4. This year, The Embassy Public Affairs Section also participated
in the TIC, promoting U.S. educational services and providing
educational guidance to prospective students. The Educational
Advisor delivered a presentation about studying abroad and fielded
over 40 requests for information and assistance.


5. The TIC provided the Political-Economic Section with a valuable
opportunity to interact with local and regional SMEs, to promote
commercial services, and open new avenues for U.S. exports. Post
will report on trade and investment resulting from the TIC as
information becomes available. Participation in this event next year
would enable more U.S. companies to take advantage of the
opportunities that exist in T&T's leading regional economy.

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EXPENDITURES
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6. Final expenditure totals for these activities are as follows:
- AIRFARE & PER DIEM: $3,238.24
- TIC related expenses: $3,863.16
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- TOTAL Expenditures: $7,101.40

- REMAINING balance: $ $13,128.60


7. Post thanks Maria-Elena Portorreal from Commercial Service Santo
Domingo and Sarah Hanson from Foreign Agricultural Service Miami for
their assistance at the TIC, as well as Dennis Winstead in EEB/CBA
for his unwavering support for Port of Spain's commercial programs.

Kusnitz