VZCZCXYZ0008
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHNC #0056/01 0181203
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 181203Z JAN 07
FM AMEMBASSY NICOSIA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7443
INFO RUEHTH/AMEMBASSY ATHENS PRIORITY 3784
RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA PRIORITY 4843
RUEHBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK 0569

UNCLAS NICOSIA 000056 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EB/CBA (DENNIS A. WINSTEAD), EB/EX AND EUR/SE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: BEXP ABUD AMGT ETRD ECON EINV BTIO CY
SUBJECT: CYPRUS' PROPOSAL FOR BFIF FUNDS 
 
REF: STATE 189849 
 
¶1. Summary: Embassy Nicosia requests BFIF funding to: 1) enable 
interoperability with Department of Commerce computer systems.  Part 
of the funding would cover travel expenses for the FCS Athens 
computer expert to come to Cyprus to connect Nicosia to the FCS 
computer system and train Embassy personnel on its use; 2) send two 
FSNs to FCS Athens for training/consultations and to inform the 
American business community in Greece about business opportunities 
in Cyprus; 3) bring two FCS personnel from Athens to Cyprus to hold 
"Doing Business in the U.S." seminars on both sides of the island; 
4) send Cyprus Tourism Organization employees and provisional 
license holders for new golf courses to the U.S. to meet with 
several key U.S. businesses active in the design, development, 
and/or supply of golf courses; and 5) send the new econ/commercial 
officer expected this summer to visit FCS Athens and FCS Ankara for 
consultations and to explore ways to enhance cooperation.  End 
Summary. 
 
¶2.  A) Embassy Nicosia requests funding to enable the FCS Athens 
computer expert to come to Cyprus for three days to install the 
necessary software to link the Commercial section in Nicosia to the 
FCS computer system and to train Nicosia commercial staff on its 
operation. (Note: We received a BFIF grant in FY 2006 for this 
purpose but were required to give it back when approval from FCS HQ 
to connect Cyprus to the FCS network could not be obtained). 
 
a) Justification:  We currently do not have access to any of the 
Commerce Department computer systems, limiting our ability to 
promote U.S. commercial interests and provide services to U.S. 
businesses.  Interoperability will provide us with significantly 
more tools to support U.S. business.  It will also enable us to work 
more closely with our FCS colleagues in D.C., Athens, Ankara and the 
U.S. Export Assistance Centers (USEACS) throughout the U.S. to 
promote business opportunities.  Experience has shown that because 
we are not on Commerce's computer network, we are not on the radar 
screen of most USEACs. 
 
b) Anticipated outcomes:  We will further advance our services and 
capabilities through our connection to the DOC systems.  Our 
exposure to U.S. business will increase and we will be better able 
to promote opportunities to the U.S. business community in a timely 
fashion.  (Currently, we depend on FCS Athens to post our Trade Lead 
Reports, which causes unavoidable delays.)  This would also cut down 
on FCS Athens' work load by enabling us to send out trade leads and 
other documents directly rather than having FCS Athens duplicate our 
work by requiring it to enter our reports into the FCS system. 
 
c) Estimated costs:  Ticket: $480; Lodging: 3 x 217 = $651.00; M & 
IE: 3 x 110 = $330; provision for the necessary software purchase: 
$1,000.  Total estimated cost: $2,461. 
 
d) Point of contact: If you wish to get more information on this 
project, please contact the Commercial Specialist, Ms. Ephie-Yvonnie 
Charalambidou at charalambidouey@state.gov or +357-22-393362 or 
Economic/Commercial Officer Mr. Michael S. Dixon at 
dixonms@state.gov or at +357-22-393359. 
 
e) Neither Embassy nor FCS Athens, our partner post, has funds to 
procure software or to bring in FCS Athens personnel.  We do have a 
computer that can be used should it be needed.  We can also finance 
the high-speed connection to the internet using the money received 
through commercial connections. 
 
f) Success criteria will include better service to U.S. business and 
quicker placement of trade leads. 
 
¶3. B) Post requests funding to send two FSNs to FCS Athens for 
additional training and to advertise to the American business 
community in Greece business opportunities in Cyprus. 
 
a) Justification: Additional training in Athens presents the 
opportunity to train the FSNs on all DoC systems as well as to 
further network with the American business community in Greece to 
apprise them of business opportunities in Cyprus.  It will also help 
create further synergies between FCS Athens and the Commercial 
office in Nicosia. 
 
b) Anticipated outcomes: The visit will ensure that post is fully 
able to take advantage of DoC connectivity requested in paragraph 2 
and will increase the exports of U.S. products and services to 
Cyprus.  We also expect the visit will increase the number of U.S. 
firms participating in the U.S. pavilion at the Cyprus International 
Fair. 
 
c) Estimated Costs: 2 x 2,500 = 5,000 
 
d) Point of contact: If you wish to get more information on this 
project, please contact Commercial Specialist Ms. Ephie-Yvonnie 
Charalambidou at charalambidouey@state.gov or +357-22-393362 or 
Economic/Commercial Officer Mr. Michael S. Dixon at 
dixonms@state.gov or +357-22-393359. 
 
e) Success criteria: FSNs are fully proficient in accessing and 
using all DoC systems available to post either now or in the near 
future and participation in the U.S. pavilion at the Cyprus 
International Fair increases by 10%. 
 
f) Post will ensure that the FSNs remain adequately trained on the 
DoC systems and that cooperation with FCS Athens and the U.S. 
business community in Greece continues. 
 
¶4. C) Post requests funding to host two "Doing Business in the U.S." 
seminars in Cyprus - one in the Government-controlled area and one 
in the area administered by Turkish Cypriots.  Funds would cover 
expenses to bring two FCS personnel from our partner post in Athens 
for three days to hold the seminars; their lodging expenses; 
reserving the halls in both communities; and for the printing of 
flyers and invitations. 
 
a) Justification: Our last "Doing Business in the U.S." seminar was 
held in November, 2004.  Since then, a lot has changed in the 
economy, especially in the area administered by Turkish Cypriots. 
Now would be a good time to remind businesspeople in both 
communities of the opportunities and benefits of doing business with 
the U.S. 
 
b) Anticipated outcome: An increase in exports to both the 
government-controlled area and the area administered by Turkish 
Cypriots. 
 
c) Estimated costs: Ticket costs to fly roundtrip from Athens to 
Cyprus - approximately USD480 per person (480x2=960); Per Diem, per 
day: USD327 per person (327x3=981x2=1,962); Halls reservation: 
USD500; printing of invitations, flyers, seminar materials: USD300. 
Total estimated cost for a three-day trip/seminar: $3,722. 
 
d) Post point of contact: If you wish to get more information on 
this project, please contact Commercial Specialist Ms. Ephie-Yvonnie 
Charalambidou charalambidouey@state.gov or +357-22-393362 or 
Economic/Commercial Officer Mr. Michael S. Dixon at 
dixonms@state.gov or +357-22-393359. 
 
¶5. D) Embassy Nicosia requests funding to send Cyprus Tourism 
Organization (CTO) employees and holders of provisional licenses for 
the construction of new golf courses in Cyprus to the U.S. (3-4 
people total) to visit and meet with several key U.S. businesses 
involved with the golfing industry.  The CTO is a governmental 
organization.  The provisional license holders are all private 
companies. 
 
a) Justification: The golfing sector in Cyprus is rapidly growing 
with the blessings of the Cyprus Government and getting key people 
to the U.S. at this time would help give U.S. companies a 
competitive advantage over their European and Asian rivals.  Cyprus 
currently has only four golf courses, but plans to permit the 
construction of another 14.  Provisional licenses for six of the 14 
were recently granted.  The UK Commercial Office has already funded 
the travel of one of the license holders to the UK to meet with 
businesses involved in the golf industry there. 
 
b) Anticipated outcome: Several key contracts for the U.S. golf 
industry in the design and construction of new golf courses in 
Cyprus. 
 
c) Estimated costs: $10,000 to include air travel and accommodation 
for 3 people for 5 days. 
 
d) Post point of contact: If you wish to get more information on 
this project, please contact Commercial Specialist Ms. Ephie-Yvonnie 
Charalambidou at charalambidouey@state.gov or +357-22-393362 or 
Economic/Commercial Officer Mr. Michael S. Dixon at 
dixonms@state.gov or +357-22-393359. 
 
¶6. E) Post would appreciate funding to send the new econ/commercial 
officer expected to arrive in Cyprus this summer to visit FCS Athens 
and FCS Ankara for consultations and to explore ways to enhance our 
cooperation. 
 
a) Justification: over the last two years Embassy Nicosia has 
created a very productive working relationship with both our partner 
post, FCS Athens, and with FCS Ankara.  A visit from the new 
econ/commercial officer would help maintain this relationship and 
help the new officer get up to speed on commercial issues.  The 
current economic-commercial officer will be leaving this summer. 
The economic-commercial section in Nicosia is a one-person post. 
 
b) Anticipated outcome: Continued strong cooperation between FCS 
Athens, FCS Ankara, and the Commercial section in Embassy Nicosia. 
A new Economic Commercial officer who is quickly up to speed on 
commercial matters. 
 
c) Estimated costs: $3,000 to include air travel and accommodation 
for 5 days. 
 
d) Post point of contact: If you wish to get more information on 
this project, please contact Commercial Specialist Ms. Ephie-Yvonnie 
Charalambidou at charalambidouey@state.gov or +357-22-393362 or 
Economic/Commercial Officer Mr. Michael S. Dixon at 
dixonms@state.gov or +357-22-393359. 
 
SCHLICHER