VZCZCXYZ0005
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHPS #0040/01 0331216
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 021216Z FEB 09
FM AMEMBASSY PRISTINA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8773
INFO RUEHBW/AMEMBASSY BELGRADE PRIORITY 0011
RUEHLJ/AMEMBASSY LJUBLJANA PRIORITY 4948
RUEHVJ/AMEMBASSY SARAJEVO PRIORITY 0058
RUEHSQ/AMEMBASSY SKOPJE PRIORITY 7494
RUEHTI/AMEMBASSY TIRANA PRIORITY 6389
RUEHVB/AMEMBASSY ZAGREB PRIORITY 5345
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC PRIORITY

UNCLAS PRISTINA 000040 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR EEB/CBA (DENNIS WINSTEAD) AND EUR/SCE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ABUD AMGT BEXP BTIO ECON ETRD YI EINV KV
SUBJECT: KOSOVO: 2009 BFIF PROPOSALS 
 
REF: A. STATE 128559 
     ¶B. SARAJEVO 75 
     ¶C. TIRANA 37 
 
¶1. Post thanks EEB/CBA for the opportunity to submit 
proposals for the Business Facilitation Incentive Fund 
(BFIF).  Per reftel instructions, USEP is submitting three 
proposals for consideration. 
 
¶2. International Franchise Expo:  There has been a steady 
increase in inquiries from U.S. companies about business 
opportunities in Kosovo, including the possibility of 
establishing franchises.  Similarly, Kosovo businesspeople 
have expressed an interest in bringing U.S. franchises to the 
country.  Franchising would be a terrific way to visibly 
promote American businesses in Kosovo and encourage other 
U.S. firms to enter the market.  Kosovo has at least one U.S. 
franchise already operating, Office One Superstore, and 
Re/Max has expressed interest in establishing a branch as 
well.  Since Kosovo is a relatively small market, U.S. 
franchise companies might be more willing to consider Kosovo 
if there were other markets that could be accessed in the 
region at the same time.  In order to better utilize our 
resources, USEP proposes to combine efforts with Embassy 
Tirana to send interested Kosovo parties to the 17th annual 
International Franchise Expo in Washington, DC from March 
20-22.  The Kosovo and Albanian markets share similar 
characteristics and goals, including a strong sense of 
entrepreneurship and an eagerness to bring more U.S. business 
to the country.  A combined delegation would be 
cost-effective and present interested U.S. companies with at 
least two potential markets for their products. 
 
¶3. Anticipated Costs:  Post would advertise the Franchise 
Expo opportunity in local newspapers and conduct a Q&A 
session with Embassy Tirana.  A quarter-page advertisement in 
leading local dailies costs a maximum of $100 per day, per 
newspaper.  We propose placing an advertisement in three 
leading dailies for five days in mid- to late February 
(estimated cost: $1,260).  In the event that the number of 
delegation participants requires a second escort, funds are 
also requested to cover M&IE expenses for Post's  Commercial 
Assistant to travel with the group (estimated cost: $288). 
Flight expenses and hotel rooms might be partially or 
completely subsidized by the travel agent depending on the 
number of participants. 
 
¶4. Workshop "How to do Business with the U.S.":  Post also 
proposes coordinating a one-day workshop on the topic "How to 
do Business with the U.S."  Both USEP and the American 
Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) Kosovo receive frequent 
inquiries from local businesses about how to do business with 
the United States.  Questions range from the practical, such 
as locating an American partner and identifying industry 
opportunities in the U.S., to technical questions about U.S. 
export procedures and requirements.  In order to expand the 
local business community's knowledge about accessing the U.S. 
market, and how to attract more U.S. businesses to enter the 
Kosovo market, USEP is proposing this one-day workshop in 
coordination with AmCham Kosovo.  Suggested speakers for this 
event include Pamela Ward, Senior Commercial Officer at the 
U.S. Embassy Zagreb, a specialist from the Department of 
Commerce in Washington, DC, and local businesses who have 
successfully entered into partnerships with U.S. companies or 
have exported to the United States.  In order to better 
structure the day, AmCham could administer an informal poll 
of topics that would be of most interest to local businesses. 
 However preliminary topics of discussion could include 
finding a U.S. partner; what U.S. companies need and want 
from their local partners; how to import products from the 
U.S. to Kosovo; and how to export products from Kosovo to the 
U.S. 
 
¶5. Anticipated Costs:  We will propose to AmCham to divide 
the costs of this event.  A suggested division of costs could 
be to have AmCham pay for the cost of the venue, advertising 
and a portion of the program materials.  USEP could cover 
travel and per diem for the two USG speakers ($2,750), 
translation during the workshop ($1,000) and program 
materials ($500). 
 
¶6. Finally, USEP supports Embassy Sarajevo's suggestion to 
hold a regional energy conference/workshop focusing on U.S. 
energy sector products and services, combined with planned 
FCS-State Post Partnership Training this spring.  Similar to 
other countries in the region, one of Kosovo's top priorities 
is to ensure a stable supply of electricity to meet domestic 
needs, with the eventual goal of becoming an energy exporter. 
 While the Government of Kosovo is currently engaged with 
tendering a new lignite-powered generation facility, Kosovo 
would benefit from exploring the best uses and applications 
of all types of energy production and adopting those where 
Kosovo has a competitive advantage.  Improving energy 
efficiency and environmental standards will also become a 
higher priority for Kosovo, as the country moves toward 
meeting the standards of joining the European Union. 
 
¶7.  Points of contact for these projects are Economic Officer 
Valerie Bilgri Holm, email: Bilgri-HolmVK@state.gov; tel: 
(381)(38) 59 59 3243, and Commercial Assistant Fatmir Morina, 
email: MorinaFH@state.gov; tel: (381)(38) 59 59 3183. 
 
¶8. USEP appreciates EEB/CBA's consideration of these funding 
requests, and looks forward to implementing these projects in 
¶2009. 
KAIDANOW