EMBASSY TBILISI BFIF PROPOSAL FOR 2010

UNCLAS TBILISI 000082

DEPT FOR EUR/CARC, EEB/CBA - Dennis Winstead

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL ECON EAIR ECIN RR GG
SUBJECT: EMBASSY TBILISI BFIF PROPOSAL FOR 2010

1.(U) Embassy Tbilisi would like to propose two projects for BFIF
funding in 2010. The first is for a Caucasus-wide commercial
conference that will help develop region-wide investment concepts
for key industries in the region in order to attract greater U.S.
business interest. This would be a public/private partnership and
include representatives of the American Chamber of Commerce in
Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan. This proposal is coordinated with
Embassy Baku and Embassy Yerevan, and their respective travel will
be covered in their individual BFIF proposals. The second proposal
is for economic/ commercial tradecraft training for a new LES
Economic and Commercial Assistant to be hired in 2010.


2. (U) CAUCASUS COMMERCIAL COORDINATION AND DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE

a-b) Justification and Impact: In coordination and agreement with
Embassies Yerevan and Baku, the Caucasus region proposes a
commercial conference to coordinate on export and investment
promotion for American companies doing or interested in doing
business in the region. Individually, Georgia, Armenia, and
Azerbaijan are small markets that, despite opportunities, often fall
under the radar screen of U.S. companies looking to export or invest
overseas. During this two day event, representatives who cover
commercial issues from each of the three embassies will meet in
Tbilisi together with the Executive Directors or Presidents of their
respective American Chambers of Commerce. In advance of this
conference, the delegations will coordinate with each other to
determine three to four sectors which present outstanding
opportunities for U.S. business looking at the larger regional
market. This will include background on each relevant sector, which
could include transportation and logistics, agro-processing, or real
estate and construction to name a few, as well as challenges to
market entry, peculiarities of each market, and contact suggestions.


The two-day conference will be an opportunity to combine these
post-specific industry sheets into a regional wide marketing tool to
attract U.S. business. The resulting documents will be posted on
each post's respective website and shared with our Commercial
Service colleagues both abroad and in the U.S. This gathering will
also allow for greater commercial coordination in the region, both
with the private sector and among U.S. representation. It would
also be useful to have Washington participation either from the
Department of State or the Department of Commerce. This conference
could also help foster economic cooperation in the Caucasus writ
large.


This conference could also help revitalize the Caucasus region
American Chamber of Commerce Alliance, which in the past held annual
meetings. The group has not met in more than three years.

Embassies Baku and Yerevan are both supportive and involved in this
proposal, and will submit their related costs in their individual
BFIF proposals.

c) This conference would be held in April in advance of the planned
Georgia Trade Mission and Business Summit that will take place in
Batumi, Georgia. This would allow the documents created to be
marketing materials for the larger trade mission.

d) Embassy Baku and Yerevan will separately submit proposals for
travel and hotel costs related to this conference. While these
costs are presented separately, they are essential for the event.
They only include travel expenses for USG eployees. All AmCham
travel will be funded independently. Embassy Tbilisi estimates
conference costs will be USD 3000 for conference space, presentation
materials, technology support, and in-Tbilisi transportation costs.

e) Point of contact for Embassy Tbilisi is Erika Olson. Point of
contact for Embassy Baku is Selim Ariturk. Point of contact for
Embassy Yerevan is Marko Velikonja.



3. (U) ECONOMIC/COMMERCIAL TRAINING FOR LES STAFF

a-b)Justification/Impact: In 2010, Post has requested a new
economic commercial LES assistant to help fill the need for greater
commercial and economic support in the Embassy. While the incumbent
will likely come with significant business or economic experience,
they will be new to the U.S. government. Sending this employee to
FSI to learn commercial and economic tradecraft, as well as to hold
consultations with the myriad of U.S. government agencies and
associations involved in economic and commercial promotion will
prove invaluable. This training will be vital in helping this new
employee play an immediate role, especially in the planning and
implementation of and follow up to a large trade and investment
mission planned in Georgia for May.

c) Milestones: While timing for this course will depend partially
on the schedule and availability of courses at FSI, we would propose
this training course take place by fall 2010.

d) Estimated Cost:

Plane Ticket to Washington DC: USD 3000
Lodging and Per Diem: USD 1582 (10 days at USD 297)
Total Cost: USD 4582

e) Point of Contact: Erika Olson/ Tom Cumbow

BASS