VZCZCXRO0587
RR RUEHCN RUEHGH RUEHVC
DE RUEHUM #0309/01 1750022
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 230022Z JUN 08 ZDS VOL CCN ZDK
FM AMEMBASSY ULAANBAATAR
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2293
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC
INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 3432
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 3106
RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHINGTON DC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC
RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORP WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ULAANBAATAR 000309 
 
C O R R E C T E D  C O P Y  (SUBJECT LINE) 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP/CM, EAP/EX AND EB/IFD/OMA 
STATE PASS TO USTR, EXIM, OPIC, USTDA 
BEIJING FOR FCS 
USDOC FOR ITA FOR ZGCROSS 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: ECON BEXP PGOV ETRD EINV MG
SUBJECT: EMBASSY'S FIRST EVER SHOWING AT MONGOLIAN TRADE FAIR 
         A MODEST SUCCESS 
 
ULAANBAATA 00000309  001.4 OF 002 
 
 
¶1. (U) SUMMARY: Embassy Ulaanbaatar's Commercial Section has for the 
first time participated in a major Mongolian trade show.  The 
Embassy's booth displayed promotional materials and brochures from 
over 40 American firms, mostly related to construction.  Local 
construction companies asked about importing construction materials 
and equipment, including hand tools, water-treatment devices, 
measuring gear and materials for the building of houses..  Our booth 
also fielded inquiries related to importing American products 
unrelated to construction, from wine to aviation parts and services 
to agricultural products and food processing equipment.  The 
Ambassador's visit to our booth also attracted positive media 
coverage. Post plans to build on this modest beginning at the autumn 
trade show.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2. (U) For the first time, Post's Commercial Section participated in 
a major Mongolian trade show from June 6-10. The Small and Medium 
Enterprise Product, Service & Technology-2008 Trade Fair was held at 
Ulaanbaatar's Misheel Center.  Post opted to concentrate on the 
construction sector as one of our best prospects for U.S. exports. 
Tapping the connections we have developed with American 
export-oriented construction companies at recent international trade 
shows in the U.S. and in China, the Commercial Section emailed 
promotional fliers to over 200 U.S. companies, mainly involved in 
construction, calling for catalogs.  Despite a limited response, the 
Embassy's booth displayed promotional materials and brochures from 
over 40 American companies.  Embassy staffers, including an intern, 
worked in two shifts from 9 am to 7 pm each day, explaining products 
and services offered in the catalogs, distributing leaflets and 
brochures, receiving and developing trade and investment leads, and 
answering visitors' questions. 
 
KEEN INTEREST IN U.S. CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS 
--------------------------------------- 
 
¶2. (U) Many people approached the U.S. Embassy booth and showed 
great interest in American products, as well as export opportunities 
for Mongolian products to the United States.  Mongolian visitors 
asked about visa procedures; educational and export opportunities; 
potential for cooperation with American investors; opportunities to 
participate in U.S. trade shows and so on.  Construction-related 
questions focused mainly on the importation of the following: 
 
-- small construction factories; 
-- hand tools; 
-- measuring equipment; 
-- water treatment facilities; 
-- water well equipment; 
-- concrete and cinder blocks; 
-- construction designs; 
-- road paving equipment; 
-- rebar; 
--wall insulation materials; 
-- sanitary and utility equipment; 
-- electrical devices; and wooden construction materials; 
 
With the construction of private houses now a booming business in 
Mongolia, many asked about American companies involved in this 
field.  They wanted to see how Americans build their houses for a 
demonstration and learn form their practice. 
 
U.S. AVIATION, TEXTILE OFFERINGS PIQUE INTEREST 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
 
¶3. (U) In addition to the construction sector, visitors were 
interested in importing the following: 
 
-- U.S. wines; 
-- aviation repair services; 
-- aircraft hangars; 
-- textile equipment; 
-- medical equipment; 
-- mining and agricultural equipment (especially those related to 
irrigation and seed plowing); 
-- energy- and food-processing equipment; 
-- vocational educational center; 
-- catering services; 
-- mobile homes; 
-- digital cameras; 
-- laptop suppliers; 
-- and iced tea factories. 
 
ULAANBAATA 00000309  002.4 OF 002 
 
 
 
Some even asked how to start up a business in the United States, and 
about tariffs on Mongolian products.  The Commercial unit will 
follow up on these and other requests and inquiries, and start 
preparing for the next trade show - September's "Ulaanbaatar 
Partnership-2008"  the country's largest annual trade show. 
 
MONGOLIA'S SECOND BIGGEST TRADE SHOW 
------------------------------------ 
 
¶4. (U) Organized by the Mongolian National Chamber of Commerce and 
Industry (MNCCI), the "Small and Medium Enterprise's Product, 
Service & Technology 2008" International Spring Trade Fair is 
Mongolia's second largest trade show.  Over 65 domestic exhibitors 
and 55 foreign exhibitors (mostly Chinese and Russian companies) 
took part.  In addition to the U.S. Embassy's booth, the governments 
of the Czech Republic, Russia and Poland also participated, along 
with the Czech Commerce Chamber and the Taiwanese Trade Center.  To 
assist the Embassy in this initial foray, MNCCI provided the Embassy 
with a free 3 m x3 m booth for five days, for the purpose of 
exhibiting catalogs. 
 
¶5. (U)  At the event's closing ceremony, the MNCCI awarded the U.S. 
Embassy a Diploma for its active and successful participation in the 
trade show. MNCCI officials also expressed appreciation for the 
Ambassador's attendance at the trade fair and his stop at the 
Embassy's booth also gained favorable coverage with the local 
media. 
 
Minton