Mission Statement
Aerospace Executive Service Program
Paris Air Show
June 16 - 18, 2003
Mission Description:
The Commerce Department's International Trade Administration (ITA) Aerospace & Defense Technologies Team and the U.S. Foreign & Commercial Service (USFCS) posts in Paris and Toulouse, France will organize an Aerospace Executive Service matchmaking mission for the Paris Air Show 2003.
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:
The Paris Air Show is the world's largest and most prestigious aerospace trade show. It is the single most 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 the Paris Air Show 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.
The Paris Air Show in 2001 set records for total exhibition area, attendance, and value of contracts signed. Over 1,800 companies from more than 40 countries showcased their products and services to approximately 121,000 qualified trade visitors at the show.
Mission Goals:
The goal of the Aerospace Executive Service at the Paris Air Show 2003 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 and personal assistants focused on furthering their company-specific objectives.
Mission Scenario:
ITA Trade Specialists will promote the Paris Aerospace Executive Service (AES) in collaboration with Trade Development / Office of Aerospace American Product Literature Center. This promotion will take place nation-wide and will largely be handled by the ITA Aerospace & Defense Technologies Team. Companies interested in the AES will apply to the program, and once accepted (see 'Criteria for Participant Selection') will work with the AES coordinator to develop their Paris Air Show business goals.
The AES coordinator, in collaboration with USFCS staff throughout Europe, trade associations, and chambers of commerce, will work in advance of the show at Commercial Service Toulouse to set three 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 Toulouse to facilitate the appointment-setting process. No exhibition or larger demonstration items will be permitted.
Effective communication between the AES coordinator and all U.S. participants will be essential to the success of the AES program. Daily email and periodic conference calls will be used to guarantee that this is accomplished. In addition to the benefit of an on-site AES coordinator, each company will be assigned a local graduate student who will become the U.S. firms' trade aide for the duration of the program. This assistant will become familiar with the company prior to the Paris Air Show in order to maximize their effectiveness during the program.
Upon arrival in Paris, AES participants will be greeted by the AES program coordinator and personally introduced to their trade aide. Participants will travel together to the show after a briefing by USFCS staff, and will begin their three days of one-on-one business appointments on Monday, June 16th.
An Aerospace Executive Service information booth will promote and refer interested parties to AES Program participants, allowing, for example, for last minute changes and scheduling of additional meetings. The AES program coordinator will be on-site and available for information and assistance throughout the duration of the Paris Air Show.
USFCS staff will provide an AES debriefing to assess the success of the program and to advise participants on appropriate follow-up procedures.
In summary, participation in the AES Program includes:
- Pre-show briefing;
- Customized, pre-arranged appointments with prospective partners, distributors, and/or end-users (3 days / maximum 4 appointments per day);
- One show entry pass per company representative;
- One invitation to the U.S. Ambassador's reception per participant;
- Access to Official U.S. Pavilion amenities, including business center, lounge and meeting rooms;
- Copy of the official Paris Air Show Exhibitor's Directory;
- Meetings with USFCS Showcase Europe Aerospace and Defense industry specialists from U.S. Embassies and Consulates across Europe;
- An on-site, trade assistant assigned to work with the company throughout the course of the AES Program;
- On-site AES program coordinator and
- Post-show debriefing.
Timetable:
Participants will arrive in Paris on their own schedule and report to the AES coordinator in Paris on Sunday, June 15, 2003 for a briefing on their appointment schedules and to meet their French-speaking trade aide. 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 Monday, June 16th - Wednesday, June 18th according to the participants' specific schedules. The Ambassador's reception will be held on Monday evening, June 16, 2003. The remainder of the show will be spent as each participant feels relevant.
Recruitment for the mission is to begin immediately and conclude, paid in full, no later than April 18th, 2003. Applications received after that date will be considered only if space and scheduling constraints permit.
Criteria for Participant Selection:
Target recruitment for the AES Program is eight 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 Paris Air Show according to the trade fair rules, which can be found at www.paris-air-show.com.
- Timeliness of company's signed application and participation agreement including fee of $2700 + $700 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.
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.
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.
Contact information:
ITA Aerospace & Defense Technology Team:
Danielle M. Dooley
Denver USEAC
1625 Broadway, Suite 680
Denver, CO 80202
Tel: 303-844-6623 x14
Fax: 303-844-5651
Email: Danielle.dooley@mail.doc.govUS Commercial Service in France:
Christopher Mente
U.S. Consulate
25, allées Jean Jaurès
31000 Toulouse, FRANCE
Tel. 011-33-5-34-41-36-52
Fax 011-33-5-34-41-16-19
Email: Christopher.mente@mail.doc.gov