VZCZCXRO6461
PP RUEHGR
DE RUEHPO #0020/01 0181924
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 181924Z JAN 08
FM AMEMBASSY PARAMARIBO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9914
INFO RUCNCOM/EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE
RUEHAO/AMCONSUL CURACAO 1221

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 PARAMARIBO 000020 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR WHA/CAR JROSHOLT 
DEPT FOR EEB/CBA DENNIS WINSTEAD 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: BEXP ABUD AMGT BTIO ECON EINV ETRD NS
SUBJECT: SURINAME'S PROPOSAL FOR FY2008 BUSINESS FACILITATION 
INCENTIVE FUND 
 
REF: 07 SECSTATE 159597 
 
PARAMARIBO 00000020  001.2 OF 004 
 
 
¶1. (U) Summary.  Embassy Paramaribo thanks EEB/CBA for continued 
financial support of Post's commercial diplomacy initiatives and 
appreciates the opportunity to submit a proposal for financial 
assistance through the Business Facilitation Incentive Fund (BFIF). 
Posts proposes funding of USD 17,750 for the following four 
projects, which are listed in rank order.  Paragraphs for each 
project below are keyed to proposal criteria in reftel.  End 
Summary. 
 
¶2. (U) The following are Post's four proposals listed in rank 
order: 
 
- Organize a "USA Tradeshow" in conjunction with the American 
Chamber of Commerce of Suriname to promote U.S. products in the 
Surinamese market, with a special focus given to marketing new U.S. 
products and services. 
 
- Conduct seminars in Paramaribo and Nieuw Nickerie with an 
Export-Import Bank speaker on how to apply for credit. 
 
- Host a digital video conference with a Department of Commerce 
speaker on doing business with the USA. 
 
- Prepare information kits on trade with Suriname (in hard copy and 
electronically) for potential U.S. investors and businesspeople 
interested in trade with Suriname.  This will serve to advance the 
National Guard's State Partnership Program between South Dakota and 
Suriname. 
 
Project I -- USA TRADE SHOW 2008: USD 5,000 
---------- 
 
¶3. (U) Post plans to organize our ninth annual BFIF-sponsored USA 
Trade Show, to be co-coordinated with the American Chamber of 
Commerce of Suriname (AmCham) for the fourth time. 
 
¶A. JUSTIFICATION:  The USA Trade Show is the only professional trade 
show featuring U.S. products and services held in Suriname.  This 
will be the ninth year of this BFIF-sponsored trade show, and the 
fourth time the show has been organized in conjunction with the 
AmCham.  The AmCham is a fairly young organization, having been in 
existence only five years, and Post's objective is to gradually give 
increased responsibility to the AmCham for the USA Trade Show in 
order to (in the long-term) make this show a self-sustaining 
project.  The AmCham has already agreed to take on greater 
organizational responsibility for the 2008 USA Trade Show.  To 
attract more participation and visitors to the 2008 event, Post will 
plan fun events to draw larger crowds to the USA Trade Show and 
engage in increased advertising. 
 
¶B. PLANNING MILESTONES:  In January, the Embassy will draft a 
timeline to guide the planning process. In February, the final 
breakdown of responsibilities between the Embassy and the AmCham 
will be decided.  Invitations to participate will be extended to the 
U.S. Chambers of Commerce in Florida, South Dakota (which has links 
to Suriname through the National Guard's State Partnership Program), 
and Suriname, and registration for vendors will begin to take place. 
 In April, registered vendors will be briefed on logistics.  Post 
will engage in promotion of the USA Trade Fair, including 
advertisements and press releases.  The USA Trade Show will be held 
in late May or early June 2008.  (Note: Final date to be determined 
in conjunction with the AmCham.) 
 
¶C. ESTIMATED BUDGET:  Costs estimates this year are based on 
expanded advertising of the show. 
 
Printing Brochures    $1,200 
Marketing promotion   $1,200 
Venue rental    $1,500 
Personnel     $  600 
Miscellaneous cost    $  500 
          ------- 
Total     $5,000 
 
¶D. COST LEVERAGING:  This year, over half of the costs will once 
again be paid for by BFIF-funds.  In past years, the AmCham also 
provided funds to support the Trade Show, which were used for 
advertising for vendors to participate in the show, hiring a 
contractor to decorate the venue, and hiring entertainment for the 
attendees of the show.  This year, the AmCham will provide their 
cost-sharing budget once their new board convenes in February 2008. 
We will also discuss with the AmCham proposals to generate revenues 
from other activities to increase their organization's income in 
2008 so that they can take on increased financial responsibilities 
for the USA Trade Shows in future years. 
 
 
PARAMARIBO 00000020  002.2 OF 004 
 
 
¶E. PERFORMANCE METRIC: Post will measure success by the feedback 
received from participating companies and attendees.  This year, 
Post also will solicit feedback from "customers" who attend the USA 
Tradeshow.  Post will also conduct its own assessment of the 
AmCham's performance in organizing the USA Trade Show and make an 
assessment on what greater responsibilities should be taken on the 
following year. 
 
F: POINTS OF CONTACT:  Please refer to Paragraph 6 below. 
 
Project II -- EXPORT-IMPORT BANK SEMINAR: USD 5,750 
---------- 
 
¶4. (U) Post proposes to hold an Export-Import Bank Seminar for the 
Suriname business community in Paramaribo and in the Nieuw Nickerie. 
 
 
JUSTIFICATION: Business entrepreneurs in Suriname have expressed 
interest to us in the services Export-Import Bank offers.  Suriname 
has been eligible for assistance from the Export-Import Bank only 
since 2006, so the business community is not yet familiar with the 
procedures of applying for credit.  Credit from the bank would 
increase resources to fuel U.S.-Suriname trade.  An effective 
speaker would explain the procedures for Surinamese businesses to 
implement so that they can take advantage of credit the 
Export-Import Bank provides. 
 
PLANNING MILESTONES:  In February, Post will work with EEB and the 
Export-Import Bank to identify a qualified speaker for the seminar. 
In April, Post would advertise the seminar with the target audience, 
namely, the business community, the Suriname-American Chamber of 
Commerce, officials of the Ministry of Trade and Industry, 
commercial banks and the news media. The seminars would be held in 
late April or early May in Paramaribo and Nieuw Nickerie. 
 
¶C. Estimated Budget for Paramaribo: 
 
Lodging  (3 days @ 120)                $  360 
M&IE     (3 days @ 67)                  $  268 
Travel                    $2,400 
Conference room                         $  500 
Advertisement                          $  300 
Fee                    $  500 
Miscellaneous (supplies)                $  172 
        ------- 
         $4,500 
 
Estimated budget for Nieuw Nickerie 
Lodging (1 day @ 120)     $120 
M&IE    (1day @67)     $ 67 
Travel       $500 
Conference room     $500 
Miscellaneous (supplies)    $ 63 
                                        ------- 
            $1,250 
           -------- 
Grand Total          $5,750 
 
¶D. COST LEVERAGING:  Post will see if Export-Import Bank can provide 
for some of the lodging and MI&E costs. 
 
¶E. PERFORMANCE METRIC: Post will survey participants in the seminar 
on whether or not this answered their questions, and if they are 
likely to apply to the Export-Import Bank for credit in the future. 
Post will also ask them to suggest seminar topics for future years. 
Post will follow up with participants after the seminar to determine 
how many applied for credit, or started the process, and how many of 
those were successful. 
 
¶F. Points of Contact: Paragraph 6 below. 
 
Project III -- Department of Commerce Digital Video Conference on 
Doing Business with the USA:  USD 1,000 
------------ 
 
¶4. (U) Embassy proposes organizing a seminar "Doing Business with 
the USA" to expand U.S trade and investment with Suriname. 
 
¶A. JUSTIFICATION: The seminar will serve as a unique opportunity to 
reach out businessmen interested in the U.S. market. Embassy will 
request assistance from Department of Commerce in providing a 
speaker to this event. 
 
¶B. PLANNING MILESTONES: Planning to identify a qualified speaker(s) 
will take place as soon as BFIF Funds are approved. A list of 
companies to be invited will be drafted in June. In August, the 
seminar will be held. 
 
 
PARAMARIBO 00000020  003.2 OF 004 
 
 
¶C. ESTIMATED BUDGET: 
Printing brochures  $  500 
Communication charges    $  500 
                         --------- 
Total                    $1,000 
 
¶D. COST LEVERAGING: No cost leveraging has been agreed upon at this 
time.  Post could propose to the new AmCham Board that we co-host 
this event as one of their breakfast series events.  If that is the 
case, non-AmCham members would be charged a fee for the breakfast. 
 
 
¶E. PERFORMANCE METRICS: The Embassy expects an increase in inquiries 
by local businesses about U.S. products and services, which we can 
track through our Political-Economic Section. 
 
¶F. POINTS OF CONTACT: Please see Paragraph 6 below. 
 
Project IV -- Information Kits on Trade with Suriname for U.S. 
Businesses:  USD 6,000 
--------- 
 
¶5. (U) Post plans to prepare information kits on trade with Suriname 
use by interested U.S. businesses.  The kit would include a listing 
of Surinamese companies that import/export with the United States 
(no such list exists). 
 
¶A. JUSTIFICATION:  As part of the National Guard's State Partnership 
Program, South Dakota and Suriname are expanding their ties in a 
number of areas.  The South Dakota National Guard has already 
brought several delegations, including business people, to Suriname. 
 The preparation of information and market assessment kits about 
Suriname (hard copies and electronic) for distribution by the 
Embassy and the South Dakota National Guard to interested U.S. 
business people would assist in promoting business ties. 
 
¶B. PLANNING MILESTONES:  Post would collect data from USG sources 
and from Government of Suriname sources in order to put together a 
handbook on doing business with Suriname after BFIF funding 
approved.  Post would advertise for Surinamese businesses to pay a 
small fee ($5) to be included in the kit in May.  The kit (250 
printed hard copies, 250 electronic CD ROM copies) would be complete 
and ready for distribution in July. 
 
¶C. ESTIMATED BUDGET: 
CD Roms (250 @ $0.90)           $  225 
Burn CD ROMs(250 @ $1.50)       $  375 
Hard copies(250 @ $ 18)         $4,500 
Professional Layout     $1,000 
                              ------------ 
                $6,100 
Minus fee 20 companies(@ $5.00) $  100 
                              ------------ 
Total       $6,000 
 
¶D. COST LEVERAGING:  South Dakota National Guard has been sponsoring 
delegations from South Dakota to Suriname, and from Suriname to 
South Dakota, several times a year.  These kits would augment their 
existing program as they could be provided to interested South 
Dakota businesses.  We would request that companies interested in 
being listed in the kit pay a small fee for their inclusion in the 
list, or a larger fee to include an advertisement.  We would note 
that the USG does not recommend any specific businesses and that 
those included have paid a fee for their inclusion.  For 
conservative budget estimate purposes only, we have assumed in the 
budget that twenty companies will pay the $5 fee for inclusion. 
Naturally, we expect a much larger number of companies to be 
interested in being included in this listing. 
 
E: PERFORMANCE METRICS:  Post economic officer and commercial 
assistant are assisting South Dakota businesses and the South Dakota 
National Guard in making links to Surinamese businesses.  This kit 
will result in faster response times by the Embassy commercial 
assistant to U.S. commercial inquiries. 
 
F: POINTS OF CONTACT:  See Paragraph 6 below. 
 
¶6. (U) POINTS OF CONTACT: 
 
Geneve Menscher, Political/Economic Section Chief 
Tel: 011-597-478-049 
Fax: 011-597-420-800 
Email: menscherge@state.gov 
 
Judith Dijks, Commercial Assistant 
Tel: 011-597-425-690 
Email: dijksjb@state.gov 
 
 
PARAMARIBO 00000020  004.2 OF 004 
 
 
SCHREIBER HUGHES