BILLING CODE: 3510-DR-P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
Announcement of Approved International Trade Administration Trade Mission
AGENCY: International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.
SUMMARY: The United States Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration
(ITA), is announcing one upcoming trade mission that will be recruited, organized, and
implemented by ITA. This mission is: Southeast Europe Energy-Transition and Energy Security
Business Development Trade Mission to Bulgaria, Romania, and Serbia. A summary of the
mission is found below. Application information and more detailed mission information,
including the commercial setting and sector information, can be found at the trade mission
website: https://www.trade.gov/trade-missions. For this mission, recruitment will be conducted
in an open and public manner, including publication in the Federal Register, posting on the
Commerce Department trade mission calendar (https://www.trade.gov/trade-missions-schedule)
and other Internet web sites, press releases to general and trade media, direct mail, broadcast fax,
notices by industry trade associations and other multiplier groups, and publicity at industry
meetings, symposia, conferences, and trade shows.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeffrey Odum, Trade Events Task Force,
International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue,
NW, Washington D.C. 20230; telephone (202) 482-6397 or email Jeffrey.Odum@trade.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Following Conditions for Participation Will Be
Used for the Mission:
Applicants must submit a completed and signed mission application and supplemental
application materials, including adequate information on their products and/or services, primary

market objectives, and goals for participation that is adequate to allow the Department of
Commerce to evaluate their application. If the Department of Commerce receives an incomplete
application, the Department may either: reject the application, request additional
information/clarification, or take the lack of information into account when evaluating the
application. If the requisite minimum number of participants is not selected for a particular
mission by the recruitment deadline, the mission may be canceled.
Each applicant must also certify that the products and services it seeks to export through the
mission are either produced in the United States, or, if not, are marketed under the name of a
U.S. firm and have at least fifty-one percent U.S. content by value. In the case of a trade
association or organization, the applicant must certify that, for each firm or service provider to be
represented by the association/organization, the products and/or services the represented firm or
service provider seeks to export are either produced in the United States or, if not, marketed
under the name of a U.S. firm and have at least 51% U.S. content by value.
A trade association/organization applicant must certify to the above for all of the companies it
seeks to represent on the mission.
In addition, each applicant must:
•

Certify that the products and services that it wishes to market through the mission
would be in compliance with U.S. export controls and regulations;

•

Certify that it has identified any matter pending before any bureau or office in the
Department of Commerce;

•

Certify that it has identified any pending litigation (including any administrative
proceedings) to which it is a party that involves the Department of Commerce; and

•

Sign and submit an agreement that it and its affiliates (1) have not and will not engage
in the bribery of foreign officials in connection with a company’s/participant’s

involvement in this mission, and (2) maintain and enforce a policy that prohibits the
bribery of foreign officials.
In the case of a trade association/organization, the applicant must certify that each firm or service
provider to be represented by the association/organization can make the above certifications.
The Following Selection Criteria Will Be Used for the Mission:
Targeted mission participants are U.S. firms, services providers, and trade
associations/organizations providing or promoting U.S. products and services that have an
interest in entering or expanding their business in the mission’s destination country. The
following criteria will be evaluated in selecting participants:
•

Suitability of the applicant’s (or in the case of a trade association/organization,
represented firm’s or service provider’s) products or services to these markets;

•

The applicant’s (or in the case of a trade association/organization, represented firm’s or
service provider’s) potential for business in the markets, including the likelihood of
exports resulting from the mission; and

•

Consistency of the applicant’s (or in the case of a trade association/organization,
represented firm’s or service provider’s) goals and objectives with the stated scope of the
mission.

Balance of company size and location may also be considered during the review process.
Referrals from a political party or partisan political group or any information, including on the
application, containing references to political contributions or other partisan political activities
will be excluded from the application and will not be considered during the selection process.
The sender will be notified of these exclusions.

Definition of Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprise
For purposes of assessing participation fees, an applicant is a small or medium-sized enterprise
(SME) if it qualifies as a “small business” under the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) size
standards (https://www.sba.gov/document/support--table-size-standards), which vary by North
American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code. The SBA Size Standards Tool
(https://www.sba.gov/size-standards) can help you determine the qualifications that apply to your
company.

MISSION LIST: (additional information about trade missions can be found at
https://www.trade.gov/trade-missions).
Southeast Europe Energy-Transition and Energy Security Business Development Trade Mission
to Bulgaria, Romania, and Serbia, March 17-21, 2025
Summary

The United States Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration (ITA), is
organizing a Southeast Europe Energy-Transition and Energy Security Business Development
Trade Mission to Bulgaria, Romania, and Serbia. This mission will introduce U.S. companies
and organizations to potential partners in dynamic Southeastern Europe, where governments are
investing in clean-energy technologies as a path toward climate neutrality and energy security
and independence. Participating firms will have the opportunity to learn about market conditions
and trends, establish industry contacts and solidify market-entry or expansion strategies, with the
underlying goal of increasing U.S. exports of innovative, advanced and clean-tech goods and
services to the region.

Every market will offer a targeted program of customized business appointments, meetings with
industry leaders and government officials and networking. Delegates will benefit from the
guidance and insights of ITA’s Commercial Service teams working in these markets.
U.S. companies and organizations will participate in networking events with key government and
private-sector stakeholders hosted by the U.S. Embassy. They will also participate in prearranged meetings with pre-screened business and government representatives to discuss
upcoming market opportunities. They will have the opportunity to learn about the Bulgarian
market from Commerce Department and other U.S. government agency experts during a country
briefing.

Proposed Timetable:
*Note: The final schedule and potential site visits will depend on the availability of host
government and business officials, specific goals of mission participants, and ground
transportation.
Sunday, March
16, 2025
Sofia, Bulgaria
Monday, March
17, 2025

•
•

Trade Mission Participants Arrive Sofia, Bulgaria
Afternoon orientation by CS Bulgaria team

•
•
•
•

Welcome breakfast
Country Briefing by U.S. Embassy Sofia team
Customized business meetings with potential buyers/partners and
government decision makers.
Closing reception with government and business contacts.

•
•
•

Morning flight to Bucharest, Romania.
Country Briefing by U.S. Embassy Bucharest team
Welcome Reception.

•
•

Customized business meetings with potential buyers/partners and
government decision makers
Closing reception with government and business contacts

•
•

Morning flight to Belgrade, Serbia
Welcome Lunch

Sofia, Bulgaria
Tuesday, March
18, 2025
Sofia, Bulgaria
to Bucharest,
Romania
Wednesday,
March 19, 2025
Bucharest,
Romania
Thursday,
March 20, 2025

Bucharest,
Romania to
Belgrade,
Serbia
Friday, March
21, 2025
Belgrade, Serbia

•
•
•

Customized business meetings potential buyers/partners and
government decision makers
Closing reception
Departure

Participation Requirements
All parties interested in participating in the trade mission must complete and submit an
application package for consideration by the Department of Commerce. All applicants will be
evaluated on their ability to meet certain conditions and best satisfy the selection criteria as
outlined below. A minimum of 10 and a maximum of 15 firms and/or trade associations will be
selected to participate in the mission from the applicant pool.
Fees and Expenses
After a firm or trade association has been selected to participate in the mission, a payment to the
Department of Commerce in the form of a participation fee is required. The participation fee for
the Business Development Mission will be $4,925.00 for small or medium-sized enterprises
(SME)1; and $6,950.00 for large firms or trade associations. The fee for each additional firm
representative (large firm or SME/trade organization) is $2,300.00. Expenses for travel, lodging,
meals, and incidentals will be the responsibility of each mission participant. Interpreter and
driver services can be arranged for additional cost. Delegation members will be able to take
advantage of U.S. Embassy rates for hotel rooms.
If and when an applicant is selected to participate in a particular mission, a payment to the
Department of Commerce in the amount of the designated participation fee below is required.
Upon notification of acceptance to participate, those selected have 5 business days to submit
payment or the acceptance may be revoked.

Participants selected for a trade mission will be expected to pay for the cost of personal
expenses, including, but not limited to, international travel, lodging, meals, transportation,
communication, and incidentals, unless otherwise noted. Participants will, however, be able to
take advantage of U.S. Government rates for hotel rooms. In the event that a mission is canceled,
no personal expenses paid in anticipation of a mission will be reimbursed. However,
participation fees for a canceled mission will be reimbursed to the extent they have not already
been expended in anticipation of the mission.
If a visa is required to travel on a particular mission, applying for and obtaining such a visa will
be the responsibility of the mission participant. Government fees and processing expenses to
obtain such a visa are not included in the participation fee. However, the Department of
Commerce will provide instructions to each participant on the procedures required to obtain
business visas.
Trade Mission members participate in trade missions and undertake mission-related travel at
their own risk. The nature of the security situation in a given foreign market at a given time
cannot be guaranteed. The U.S. Government does not make any representations or guarantees as
to the safety or security of participants. The U.S. Department of State issues U.S. Government
international travel alerts and warnings for U.S. citizens available at
https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/alertswarnings.html. Any question regarding
insurance coverage must be resolved by the participant and its insurer of choice.
Travel and in-person activities are contingent upon the safety and health conditions in the United
States and the mission countries. Should safety or health conditions not be appropriate for travel
and/or in-person activities, the Department will consider postponing the event or offering a
virtual program in lieu of an in-person agenda. In the event of a postponement, the Department
will notify the public, and applicants previously selected to participate in this mission will need
to confirm their availability but need not reapply. Should the decision be made to organize a

virtual program, the Department will adjust fees, accordingly, prepare an agenda for virtual
activities, and notify the previously selected applicants with the option to opt-in to the new
virtual program.
Timeframe for Recruitment and Applications
Mission recruitment will be conducted in an open and public manner, including publication in
the Federal Register, posting on the Commerce Department trade mission calendar
(http://export.gov/trademissions) and other Internet websites, press releases to general and trade
media, direct mail, notices by industry trade associations and other multiplier groups, and
publicity at industry meetings, symposia, conferences, and trade shows. Recruitment for the
mission will begin immediately and conclude no later than February 10, 2025. The U.S.
Department of Commerce will review applications and inform applicants of selection decisions
on a rolling basis. Applications received after February 10, 2025, will be considered only if
space and scheduling constraints permit.
Contacts
Hannah Kamenetsky
Senior Commercial Officer
U.S. Department of Commerce
U.S. Embassy Sofia, Bulgaria
+359 2 939 5745
Hannah.Kamenetsky@trade.gov
Emily Taneva,
Commercial Specialist
U.S. Department of Commerce
U.S. Embassy Sofia, Bulgaria
+359 2 929 5770
emily.taniva@trade.gov
Laura Gimenez
Acting Senior Commercial Officer
U.S. Department of Commerce
U.S. Embassy Bucharest, Romania
laura.gimenez@trade.gov
+40 725 983 961

Monica Bogodai
Budget Specialist
U.S. Department of Commerce
U.S. Embassy Bucharest, Romania,
monica.bogodai@trade.gov
+40 21 200 3371
Rachel Duran
Senior Commercial Officer
U.S. Department of Commerce
U.S. Embassy Belgrade, Serbia
rachel.duran@trade.gov
+381 117 064 072
Boris Popov
Senior Commercial Specialist
U.S. Department of Commerce
U.S. Embassy Belgrade, Serbia
boris.popov@trade.gov
+381 11 306 4752

Gemal Brangman,
Director,
ITA Events Management Task Force.

[FR Doc. 2024-12508 Filed: 6/6/2024 8:45 am; Publication Date: 6/7/2024]