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: Genomic and Genetic Technologies Trade Mission to
Greece, Türkiye, and Italy on May 19-23, 2025. 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 cancelled.
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 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.

The Following Selection Criteria Will Be Used for the Mission:
Targeted mission participants are U.S. firms 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 products or services to these markets;

•

The applicant’s potential for business in the markets, including likelihood of exports
resulting from the mission; and

•

Consistency of the applicant’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).
Genomic and Genetic Technologies Trade Mission to Greece, Türkiye, and Italy on May 1923, 2025.
Summary
The United States Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration (ITA), is
organizing a Genomic and Genetic Technologies Trade Mission to Greece, Türkiye, and Italy on
May 19-23, 2025.
The mission is open to U.S. firms working on genomic and genetic technologies. Examples

of participant companies include those engaged in products for Next Generation Sequencing
(NGS) R&D and test kit development, Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS), Whole Exome
Sequencing (WES), Bioinformatics, Molecular Cytogenetics, Molecular Genetics, Cancer
Genetics, Pharmacogenetics, Rare Diseases, Pre-natal Genetic Disorders, and
Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT) for in Vitro Fertilization.
Participation in the ‘Genomic and Genetic Technologies Trade Mission to Greece, Türkiye and
Italy will provide participating U.S. firms with the opportunity to better understand the market for
their products, visit leading research institutes and genetics labs, network with key industry people,
and identify local partners.
Mission Scenario
The mission fee will include market briefings, B2B meetings, Ministries of Health meetings, site
visits (*Subject to confirmation) to research institutes or genetic labs, receptions with industry
contacts and hosted luncheons in each market with keynote industry speakers.
Delegation participants will arrive in Athens, Greece on Sunday, May 18, 2025. The mission will
officially start on Monday, May 19. The day will include a market briefing on the genomic and
genetic technologies market in Greece followed by B2B meetings. The schedule will likely
include a B2G meeting with the Ministry of Health. There will be a hosted luncheon with a
keynote industry speaker and an evening reception with industry contacts.
On Tuesday, May 20, the delegation will fly to Istanbul, Türkiye. Before a reception with key
industry players at the Consul General’s Residence, CS Istanbul staff will deliver a market
briefing to the participants at the same venue. On Wednesday, May 21, U.S. companies will have
B2B meetings with potential business partners, visit an industry site, and attend a hosted
luncheon with a keynote industry speaker. Participants will depart Istanbul for Milan, Italy on an
evening flight.

On Thursday, May 22, participants will attend a market briefing followed by B2B meetings. In
the evening, participants will attend a reception with industry contacts. On Friday, May 23, U.S.
firms will participate in a site visit and attend a hosted luncheon with a keynote industry speaker.
Participants interested in attending the European Human Genomics Conference (separate fee),
taking place May 24-27, may opt to stay in Milan. Otherwise, participants will depart Milan on
Saturday, May 24.
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, May
18, 2025

•

Trade Mission Participants in Athens, Greece

Monday, May
19, 2025

•

Athens, Greece
o Morning: Market Briefing
o Morning: B2B Meetings
o Lunch: Hosted lunch with a keynote industry speaker
o Afternoon: Visit to Ministry of Health or Greek Industry Institution
o Evening: Small Reception (maximum 50 participants)

Tuesday, May
20, 2025

•

En route to Istanbul, Türkiye
o Early morning: Flight to Istanbul, Türkiye
o Afternoon: Market Briefing
o Evening: Small Reception (maximum 50 participants)

Wednesday,
May 21, 2025

•

Istanbul, Türkiye and En route to Milan, Italy
o Morning: B2B Meetings
o Lunch: Hosted lunch with a keynote industry speaker
o Afternoon: Site visit
o Evening: Flight to Milan, Italy

Thursday, May
22, 2025

•

Milan, Italy
o Morning: Market Briefing
o Morning: B2B Meetings – Session #1
o Lunch: Networking Lunch
o Afternoon: B2B Meetings – Session #2
o Evening: Small Reception (maximum 50 participants)

Friday, May 23,
•

Milan, Italy
o Morning: Site visit
o Lunch: Hosted lunch with a keynote industry speaker

o End of Trade Mission
Saturday, May
24, 2025

•
•

Option #1: Departure from Milan, Italy
Option #2: Participate in the European Human Genomics Conference in Milan,
Italy – registration is the responsibility of the U.S. firm.

Participation Requirements
All parties interested in participating in the trade mission must complete and submit an
application package for consideration by the DOC. 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 maximum of 15 firms will be selected to participate in the mission from the
applicant pool.
Fees and Expenses
After a firm has been selected to participate on the mission, a payment to the Department of
Commerce in the form of a participation fee is required. The participation fee for the Genomic
and Genetic Technologies Trade Mission to Greece, Türkiye and Italy will be $4,400 for small or
medium-sized enterprises (SME); and $6,500 for large firms. Expenses for travel, lodging,
meals, and incidentals will be the responsibility of each mission participant. Interpreter and
driving services can be arranged at an additional cost. Delegation members will be able to take
advantage of U.S. Embassy rates for hotel rooms.
There will be a $750 fee for each additional firm representative (large firm or SME) that
wishes to participate in.
If and when an applicant is selected to participate on a particular mission, a payment to the
Department of Commerce in the amount of the designated participation fee above 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
cancelled, no personal expenses paid in anticipation of a mission will be reimbursed. However,
participation fees for a cancelled 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 previous selected applicants with the option to opt-in to the new virtual

program.
Timeline 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 web sites, 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 January 31, 2025. The U.S.
Department of Commerce will review applications and inform applicants of selection decisions
on a rolling basis. Applications received after January 31, 2025, will be considered only if space
and scheduling constraints permit.
Contacts
Michelle Ouellette (U.S. based Recruitment Lead)
Senior International Trade Specialist
Boston U.S. Export Assistance Center
+ 1 (617)565-4302
Michelle.Ouellette@trade.gov
Cindy Ma
Senior International Trade Specialist
U.S. Commercial Service – San Jose, CA
+1 (510) 368-0765
Cindy.Ma@trade.gov
Monica Toporkiewicz
Senior International Trade Specialist
U.S. Commercial Service – Chicago, IL
+1 312-353-8059
Monica.Toporkiewicz@trade.gov
Gemal Brangman,
Director, Global Trade Programs.

[FR Doc. 2024-14931 Filed: 7/5/2024 8:45 am; Publication Date: 7/8/2024]