MISSION STATEMENT

Mission Description: The Commerce Department's International Trade Administration (ITA) Aerospace & Defense Technologies Team and the U.S. Foreign & Commercial Service (USFCS) post in London, England, will organize an Aerospace Executive Service (AES) matchmaking mission for the Farnborough International Air Show (FAIS) 2004.

The Aerospace Executive Service matchmaking mission will include approximately ten representatives from a variety of U.S. aerospace-industry manufacturers and service providers. These mission participants will be introduced to international agents, distributors and end-users whose capabilities are targeted to each U.S. participants' needs in that particular market.

Commercial Setting: Farnborough International '04 is the world's premier business aviation event of the year. It is an important venue to U.S. exporters for commercial and information exchange in the civilian and military aerospace fields. This show provides an excellent and unmatched opportunity to explore a variety of international markets.

Because Farnborough International attracts buyers and experts in the field from all ends of the globe, it serves as a barometer of trends and an indispensable source of market information. It is among the most efficient and effective tool for establishing contacts and selling to all world markets.

At Farnborough International 2002 1,260 exhibitors from 32 countries were accommodated in 71,000 m² of temporary structures with a further 42,000 m² of outdoor space. Attendance reached 290,000 visitors over the five trade and two public days. The value of orders announced reached $9 billion.

Mission Goals: The goal of the Aerospace Executive Service at FAIS 2004 is to facilitate an effective presence for small- and medium- sized companies, without their incurring the major expenses associated with physical exhibition space.

The AES Program enables U.S. aerospace companies to familiarize themselves with this important trade fair, to conduct market research and to explore export opportunities through pre-arranged meetings with potential partners. The Aerospace Executive Service also allows U.S. companies to have a presence at the show in the form of an AES Information Booth, providing them with an enhanced image and level of engagement. They are supported by knowledgeable Commercial Service staff focused on furthering their company-specific objectives.

Mission Scenario:

The AES London coordinator, in collaboration with USFCS staff and trade associations throughout Europe, will work in advance of the show to set two days of one-on-one appointments for each participant. These business meetings will be with targeted agents, distributors, and/or end users from European and other overseas markets, per each company's specification. Participants will forward company information and literature to USFCS London to facilitate the appointment-setting process.

Participation in the AES Farnborough 2004 Program includes:

• Pre-show briefing on Sunday PM, July 18, 2004;
  
• Familiarization day on Monday, July 19, 2004;
  
• Customized, pre-arranged appointments with prospective partners, distributors, and/or end-users (2 days / maximum 5 appointments per day);
  
• 3 days entry of entry passes per company representative (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday). Additional days at company's expense;
  
• Access to U.S. Pavilion amenities in which the AES program is located, including business center lounge;
  
• Copy of the official Farnborough International 2004 Exhibitor's Directory;
  
• Opportunities for one-on-one meetings with aerospace and defense commercial specialists from Embassies and Consulates across Europe;
  
• On-site AES program coordinator;
  
• Embassy rates at designated London hotels;

Timetable: AES briefing packets will be awaiting AES participants at their hotel. Participants will be responsible for traveling to and from the exhibition and hotel via the Waterloo train station. If desired, participants can use the transportation shuttle (10 minute bus ride) provided by the show organizers between the Farnborough train station and the exhibition.

Participants will arrive at Farnborough International in the Kallman U.S. Pavilion on their own schedule and report to the AES coordinators at Farnborough International 2004 at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, July 19, 2004 for a briefing on their appointment schedules. This meeting will also serve to introduce the U.S. participants to one another, with the potential for synergies among them. All one-on-one business appointments will take place Tuesday July 20 and Wednesday, July 21 at Kallman Worldwide US International Pavilion according to the participants' specific schedules. The remainder of the show will be spent as each participant feels relevant.

Recruitment for the mission is to begin immediately and conclude no later than June 7th, 2004. Applications received after that date will be considered only if space and scheduling constraints permit.

Mission recruitment will be conducted in an open and public manner, including posting on the Commerce Department trade missions calendar - www.ita.doc.gov/doctm/tmcal.html - and other Internet websites, publication in domestic trade publications and association newsletters, mailings from internal mailing lists, winfaxes to internal database aerospace clients, email to aerospace distribution lists, through posting in the Federal Register, and at industry meetings, symposia, conferences, trade shows, etc. The AES Program will also be promoted by USFCS and by ITA Aerospace & Defense Technology Team members in U.S. Export Assistance Centers.

Criteria for Participant Selection: Target recruitment for the AES Program is ten companies. Each applicant to the program will be screened for the following:

• Relevance of the company's business line to the mission's goals.
  
• Acceptability of product area/sector for exhibition in the Farnborough International 2004 according to the trade fair rules, which can be found at www.farnborough.com.
  
• Timeliness of company's signed application and participation agreement including fee of $2900 + $600 for each additional company representative.
  
• Timely and adequate provision of company and product/service information and literature, in order to enable communication of company's objectives and scheduling of business appointments.
  
• Provision of adequate information on company's products and/or services, and company's primary market objectives, in order to facilitate appropriate matching with potential business partners.
  
• All applications are subject to approval by USFCS

A company's products or services must be either produced in the United States or, if not, marketed under the name of a U.S. firm and have at least 51% U.S. content of the value of the finished product/service.

Any partisan political activities (including political contributions) of an applicant are entirely irrelevant to the selection process.

Coordinators: