TALLINN'S BFIF FY09 PROPOSAL

UNCLAS TALLINN 000017

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EEB/CBA AND EUR/NB
HELSINKI FOR SCO MCCLEARY

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ETRD BEXP AMGT ABUD BTIO EINV EN

SUBJECT: TALLINN'S BFIF FY09 PROPOSAL

REF: A) STATE 00128559


1. Summary: Embassy Tallinn proposes one FY09 project
for the Business Facilitation Incentive Fund connected
to the upcoming launch of the Commerce-State Post
Partnership Program MOU for Fee Collection. Post
requests funding to send our Economic/Commercial/EU
LES for training in Foreign Commercial Service (FCS)
services standards and services. Post requests a
total of USD 2,000 in BFIF funds. End Summary.


2. Proposed project: Training for
Economic/Commercial/EU FSN receives in FCS procedures,
applications and standards, including the new Client
Tracking System (CTS). Post is looking into the
possibility of sending the Economic/Commercial/EU LES
for joint training with LES from other non-FCS posts,
to be determined. In the event there are no such
training opportunities, the LES will have training at
our partnership FCS post in Helsinki.

A) Justification: Post understands that the upcoming
launch of the Commerce-State Post Partnership Program
MOU for Fee Collection will require that the services
provided by non-FCS posts meet all FCS standard
requirements. As a result, it is important to get the
most current overview of all service standards to
provide adequate customer service to U.S. companies
seeking assistance from the Embassy. Additionally,
Post understands that by entering data in the new CTS
directly, post can retain a larger percentage of
collected Trust Funds for State rather than
transferring them to Commerce in payment for CTS
services.

B) Planning Milestones:

March 2009: BFIF money is awarded;

April 2009-July 2009: Post identifies potential sites
for training together with regional posts and EEB/CBA,
coordinates hotel and other logistic details;

August 2009: Economic/Commercial/EU FSN has received
CTS training;

September 2009: Post sends final BFIF report on
performance metrics.

C) Performance Metrics: Use of revenue generated from
new FCS tools and programs at post to provide better
service to U.S. businesses.

D) Estimated Costs: Transportation: USD 1000, Hotel,
Meals and Incidental Expenses: USD 900, Ground
Transportation USD 100. Total Requested: USD 2,000.

E) Point of Contact: Political/Economic Officer
Robert
Hollister, phone: 372-668-8107, fax: 372-668-8259,
email: hollisterrm@state.gov.

F) Leveraging of Funding? Yes, in the event of
training opportunities which exceed USD 2,000 Post
will leverage BFIF funding with FCS Trust Funds. Post
is planning to use the majority of its existing FCS
Trust Funds, as soon as they are released, to send
this LES to the U.S. Travel Industry Association's
annual trade show in Miami, FL in May 2009.

G) Outcome/Success Criteria? Yes, see paragraph C
above.

H) Follow-up Strategy: Economic/Commercial/EU FSN
will
maintain regular contact with FCS Helsinki to get
updates on all changes in FCS services standards,
possible training opportunities, and any questions
concerning the implementation of CTS at Post.

PHILLIPS