VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHSI #0082/01 0221424
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 221424Z JAN 10
FM AMEMBASSY TBILISI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2739
INFO RUEHKB/AMEMBASSY BAKU 2077
RUEHYE/AMEMBASSY YEREVAN 2438

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