VZCZCXYZ0030
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHPS #0054/01 0321713
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 011713Z FEB 08
FM USOFFICE PRISTINA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7964

UNCLAS PRISTINA 000054 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR EEB/CBA - DENNIS WINSTEAD 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ABUD AMGT BEXP BTIO ECON ENIV ETRD
SUBJECT: KOSOVO 2008 BFIF PROPOSAL 
 
REF: 07 STATE 159597 
 
¶1. (U) In response to EB's 2008 call for Business 
Facilitation Incentive Fund (BFIF) proposals, USOP requests 
funding for LES commercial training, to take place in July, 
and a series of intellectual property rights workshops to be 
hosted during the third or fourth quarter of the fiscal year. 
 
¶2. (U) USOP requests funding for post's sole LES commercial 
assistant to attend the U.S. Commercial Service's 2008 
Professional Development Enterprise Forum, to be held in 
Alexandria, VA from July 14-18.  Post's commercial assistant 
has encumbered this position for more than two years but has 
yet to receive formal instruction in his field.  An intuitive 
self-starter, our commercial assistant has been performing 
his business facilitation and advocacy responsibilities at a 
very high level.  Nevertheless, he would benefit from 
structured training that will provide him with perspective 
and clarification on the Washington component of his work. 
The Professional Development Enterprise Forum is an ideal 
opportunity to do this.  The program offers an in-depth and 
interactive training opportunity designed to strengthen 
professional and technical job skills, provides courses, 
practice activities and opportunities to share experience and 
knowledge for trade specialists, commercial officers and 
commercial specialists.  The estimated cost of this training 
is USD 3,500.00, to include travel, per diem, airport ground 
transportation, visa costs and consultations. 
 
¶3. (U) USOP proposes to host a series of workshops on 
intellectual property rights (IPR) and economic development. 
Kosovo is keen to attract foreign investment, particularly 
from U.S. businesses, and the ability to demonstrate a solid 
understanding and commitment to IPR is crucial to achieving 
this goal.  With Kosovo nearing a potential status 
resolution, it will be even more important for Kosovo to 
demonstrate credible capacity in this area.  Although there 
are counterfeit consumer good available for sale, Kosovo is 
not a counterfeit goods producer and is in a position to curb 
intellectual property violations with the development of a 
strong protection regime that informs and includes all 
players involved. 
 
¶4. (U) The proposed workshops will focus on the roles and 
responsibilities of businesses regarding IPR protection, and 
how businesses intersect with government agencies involved in 
intellectual property protection/enforcement in relation to 
economic development.  All players in the development of a 
strong intellectual property rights regime will be targeted, 
including government agencies, private businesses, legal 
organizations and educational institutions.  The workshops 
will be conducted over three days in Pristina, with a morning 
and/or afternoon workshop dedicated to one of the target 
audiences (e.g. government agencies, educational 
institutions, private businesses, etc.).  Post anticipates 
hosting these workshops during the third or fourth quarter of 
2008 and will approach potential participants in the second 
quarter of 2008.  Co-sponsorship of the workshops is possible. 
 
¶5. (U) USOP proposes Timothy Trainor, founder of the Global 
Intellectual Property Strategy Center, to conduct the 
workshops.  Mr. Trainor is a noted expert in this field and 
has given similar workshops in his current role and as 
president of the International Anti-Counterfeiting Coalition. 
 Mr. Trainor also has extensive practical experience in this 
field, working in the Intellectual Property Rights Branch of 
the former U.S. Customs Service and as an attorney in the 
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's (PTO) Office of 
Legislative and International Affairs. 
 
¶6. (U) Estimated costs for this workshop series is USD 
5,000.00, to include travel, per diem and honorarium expenses 
for Mr. Trainor (USD 3,500.00), interpretation services 
during the workshops (USD 1,000.00) and program materials 
(USD 500.00).  Post will request target audiences to provide 
venues free of charge.  Points of contact for this project 
are Economic Officer Valerie Bilgri Holm, email: 
Bilgri-HolmVK@state.gov, tel: (381)(38) 59 59 3000, ext. 
3243, and Commercial Assistant Fatmir Morina, email: 
MorinaFH@state.gov, tel: (381)(38) 59 59 3000, ext. 3183. 
 
¶7. (U) Post-workshop, USOP will conduct follow-up assessments 
with government agencies and private businesses to facilitate 
implementation of lessons learned from the workshops into 
tangible benefits for businesses.  This will include 
streamlining the IPR application process where necessary, 
coordinating inter-organization cooperation on IPR 
protection, and encouraging businesses to promote adherence 
to IPR protection.  USOP will also evaluate any increase in 
IPR applications, especially from foreign investors, 
enforcement measures taken against IPR violations and any 
public information outreach.  All of these measures will 
strengthen Kosovo's position to attract U.S. foreign 
investment and will be promoted by USOP. 
 
¶8. (U) USOP appreciates EEB/CBA's consideration of these 
funding requests, and looks forward to implementing these 
projects in 2008. 
KAIDANOW