VZCZCXYZ0004
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHUM #0530/01 3450026
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 100026Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY ULAANBAATAR
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2597
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS ULAANBAATAR 000530 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EEB/CBA - Dennis Winstead 
USDOC FOR ZHEN-GONG CROSS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ABUD AMGT BEXP BTIO ECON EINV ETRD MGL
SUBJECT: 2008 BUSINESS FACILITATION INCENTIVE FUND (BFIF) FY08 
PROGRAM CLOSEOUT REPORT ULAANBAATAR FOR CON-AGG PROJECT 
 
Ref: State 73258 
 
¶1. Please find post's closeout report for the FY 2008 BFIF-supported 
2008 Con-Agg project. 
¶2. Text of report: 
Business Facilitation Incentive Fund 
Project Report - FY2008 
Date Submitted: December 9, 2008 
Project Manager: Michael D. Richmond, Senior Commercial Specialist 
Office: Economic and Commercial Section, US Embassy Ulaanbaatar, 
Mongolia 
Contact: +976-329-095; richmondmd@state.gov 
Project Title: Attending CONEXPO-CONAGG 2008 Show in Las Vegas, 
Nevada, March 11-15 to promote U.S. construction materials and 
equipment sales in Mongolia 
Introduction: 
 
As part of its ongoing effort to promote U.S. construction goods and 
services sales in Mongolia, post received BFIF funds (USD 620, refer 
to 2008 State 23958 for fund cite information) to be used to send 
Commercial Assistant Ms. M. Altantsetseg to the CONEXPO-CONAGG 2008 
Show in Las Vegas, Nevada, March 11-15:  Specific aims included: 
 
-- Provide first hand knowledge of the Mongolian market and its 
opportunities to U.S. vendors. 
 
-- Facilitate commercial links among these American vendors with 
Mongolian and foreign firms actively constructing commercial, 
industrial, and residential structures in Mongolia.  We worked with 
Department of Commerce and Expo organizers on match-making the 
delegation with U.S. manufactures attending Con-Agg. 
 
-- Provide needed translation and interpretation services to 
Department of Commerce Officers (DOC), Expo staff, Mongolian 
visitors, and U.S. suppliers. 
 
BFIF Project Support: 
 
The Business Facilitation and Investment Fund provided USD 620 to 
cover 3 days of lodging expenses in Las Vegas and to cover airfare 
from Los Angeles to Las Vegas. 
 
Results of the Project: 
 
¶1. Outreach to Mongolian firms 
 
Our commercial team aggressively researched and recruited Mongolian 
construction firms.  These efforts consisted of broadly distributing 
information on Con-Agg 2008 to over 200 construction businesses 
through joint promotional activities with our local partner, the 
Mongolian Builder's Association (MBA), and through briefings to 
associations and face-to-face meetings with Ulaanbaatar-based 
construction firms.  These efforts yielded a Mongolian delegation 
composed of 34 individuals representing 22 firms, associations, and 
government of Mongolia officials.  Firms were primarily interested 
in equipment and products related to concrete and building 
exteriors. 
 
When including other exhibitions for which we supported Mongolian 
delegations with and without the use of BFIF funds, including the 
2008 International Builders Show in Orlando Florida (20 Mongolians), 
World of Concrete 2008 in Las Vegas (30 Mongolians), the 2008 Waste 
Management Show in Chicago (15 Mongolians), and the 2008 MINEXPO in 
Las Vegas (105 Mongolians), we see growth from 27 to 204 Mongolian 
participants over two years.  All of this was achieved through a 
program we created in 2006 and continued in 2007 and 2008 with 
on-going support from BFIF. 
 
¶2. Export Results 
 
Following the delegation's return, our local partner, the MBA, 
surveyed the delegates regarding purchases made on goods and 
services associated with attendance at Con-Agg 2008: 
 
--USD 108,000: Air tickets, hotels, food etc 
--USD 490,500: Measuring tools, equipment, cars, and control 
devices 
--USD 598,500: Total 
 
The total USG contribution from DOC, BFIF, and post funds was 
approximately USD 2,500, with the event organizer providing USD 
1,000 to cover part of the airfare. (See excel spreadsheet provided 
septel for breakdown of exports.) 
 
Follow Up Activities: 
 
Post's Commercial section has maintained the contacts with the 
leading professional construction association, the MBA, and 
 
individual firms that we originally employed in support of CONEXPO 
Asia 2006, continuing in 2007 and 2008 through the exhibitions 
mentioned above.  We are currently at work with the MBA organizing 
separate delegations for the 2009 International Builders Show in Las 
Vegas and the 2009 World of Concrete Show, also in Las Vegas. 
 
The Commercial Section at the U.S. Embassy in Ulaanbaatar intends to 
submit a project proposal to support the attendance of Commercial 
Assistant M. Altantsetseg at the World of Concrete Show in Las 
Vegas, February 1-6, 2009. 
 
Breakdown of Expenses (travel voucher data to follow in separate fax 
and email): 
 
--USD 320: 5 days of per diem in Las Vegas 
--USD 298: roundtrip airfare from Las Angeles, CA to Las Vegas, NV 
--USD 618: Total