VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHWN #0011/01 0041751
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 041751Z JAN 08
FM AMEMBASSY BRIDGETOWN
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5972

UNCLAS BRIDGETOWN 000011 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/CAR, EB/CBA - DENNIS WINSTEAD, AND EB/EX 
SANTO DOMINGO FOR USFCS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ENRG EAGR ETRO EAID EPET EINV BB
SUBJECT: BFIF 08 BARBADOS PROPOSAL FOR REGIONAL COMMERCIAL 
OUTREACH TRIPS 
 
REF: 07 STATE 159597 
 
SUMMARY 
------- 
 
¶1. Following the decision by USFCS to close its Barbados 
office in August, 2007, Embassy Bridgetown's Pol/Econ section 
has assumed responsibility for the commercial portfolio. In 
support of this transition, the Embassy reprogrammed the 
former FCS LES position, and hired a 
commercial/econ/political assistant, who came on board in 
November, 2007. Embassy Bridgetown's major commercial goals 
this year are reestablishing a regional AMCHAM, establishing 
strong working relations with the various business chambers 
of commerce and associations across our region, and setting 
up a regular distribution of commercial opportunities to the 
business communities in the region. 
 
In order to meet these goals, it will be necessary for our 
designated commercial officer and new LES to visit each of 
our islands, and Santo Domingo FCS office.It would also be 
beneficial for them to attend two regional business 
conferences in the U.S. during this fiscal year. During each 
of these trips, they will meet with the local American 
business community, local business associations, and 
government ministries involved with promoting business and 
economic development. The trips are tentatively scheduled as 
noted below, and once we have confirmation of funding, we 
will make final arrangements. Our cost estimates are based on 
current prices, (all prices are in US dollars) and on costs 
of past trips by others in the mission. The trips are listed 
in chronological order. For the February - March trips, post 
will send a separate e-mail requesting early funding per 
reftel.  End Summary 
 
¶2. Begin 2008 BFIF Funding request 
 
St Kitts and Nevis - mid-February (see sep Aller-Winstead 
e-mail request for early funding) 
 
Purpose: commercial outreach, meetings with American business 
community, local business chambers and government economic 
ministries, as well as the new USAID-funded Investment 
Promotion Agency. 
 
Duration: 4 days, COMOFF and LES 
Cost:     3,120 (air fare,per diem) 
 
Dominican Republic - early March 
 
Purpose: To attend training at FCS Santo Domingo, and to meet 
with Santo Domingo AMCHAM members for consultations on 
setting up a regional AMCHAM. 
 
Duration:  4 days, COMLOFF and LES 
Cost:      3,580 (air fare,per diem) 
 
Antigua and Barbuda  - mid April 
 
Purpose:  commercial outreach, meetings with American 
business community, local business chambers, government 
economic ministries as well as the new USAID-funded 
Investment Promotion Agency 
 
 
Duration: 4 days COMLOFF and LES 
Cost:     2,650 (air fare, per diem) 
 
St Lucia - early May 
 
Purpose: commercial outreach, meeting with American Business 
community, local business chambers, and government economic 
ministries. 
 
Duration:  4 days COMLOFF and LES 
Cost:      2,888 (air fare, per diem) 
 
Dominica - mid August 
 
Purpose: commercial outreach, meeting with American Business 
community, (follow up to first meeting with American business 
community November, 2007), local business chambers, and 
government economic ministries 
 
Duration: 4 days COMLOFF and LES 
Cost:     2,096 (air fare, per diem) 
 
 
St Vincent - September 
 
Purpose: commercial outreach, meetings with American Business 
community, local business chambers, and government economic 
ministries 
 
Duration: 4 days COMLOFF and LES 
Cost:     2,158 (air fare, per diem) 
 
Washington, DC  - mid September 
 
Purpose:  to attend the Worldwide AMCHAM annual meetings, 
consultations with WHA, EB DRL, DOL, Commerce. Key American 
business figures from across the region are expected to be in 
attendance 
 
Duration: 5 days COMLOFF only (3 days conference, 2 days 
consultations) 
Cost:     2,020 (air fare, per diem, conference registration 
fees) 
 
Grenada - early October 
 
Purpose: commercial outreach, meeting with American business 
community, local business chambers and government economic 
ministries, meetings with embassy staff 
 
Duration: 4 days COMLOFF and LES 
Cost:     2,676 
 
Summary of costs 
 
Regional travel:   19,148 
US travel:          2,158 
 
Total :            21,306 
 
Total requested:   22,000 
 
End BFIF 2008 request 
GARZA