Trade Mission

Plans for upcoming trade missions are underway. Please check
back periodically for details.

OVERVIEW

TNTrade’s automotive trade mission will take place July 17-20, 2012. ECD will lead a group of automotive companies to the PAACE Automechanika exposition in Mexico City, the largest and most prominent international trade show for the automotive industry in Mexico and Central America. Qualifying companies will be introduced to potential customers and partners through business to business meetings arranged by the U.S. Commercial Service. In addition to these meetings, participants will be provided with lodging and ground transportation free of charge during the mission.

APPLICATION PERIOD HAS CLOSED AS OF JUNE 1, 2012

Eligibility Requirements

Each company that wishes to participate in the automotive sector trade mission must satisfy ALL of the criteria set forth below:

1. Operate a licensed business in Tennessee to manufacture, assemble and/or distribute an automotive-related product, or provide an exportable automotve-related service (if manufactured or produced outside Tennessee, the product/service must be marketed under the name of a Tennessee firm and have Tennessee content representing at least fifty-one percent of the value of the finished good and/or service);

2. Be in good standing with the Tennessee Secretary of State;

3. Be a “small business” based on the SBA definition, found here.

4. Have been in business for not less than one year from the date of the Trade Mission Application submission;

5. Have generated a profit during the most recent fiscal year (or portion thereof if the business has not operated for a complete fiscal year), based on operations in the United States;

6. Understand the costs associated with exporting and doing business with foreign purchasers, including the costs of freight forwarding, customs brokers, packing and shipping; and

7. Have a strategic plan for exporting.

Tentative Mission Itinerary*

Tuesday, July 17
All day: Participants arrive
Evening: Briefing, country overview and expert presentation

Wednesday, July 18
Morning: Gold Key meetings
Afternoon/Evening: **PAACE Automechanika Expo
OSA Reception at Expo

Thursday, July 19
Morning: Gold Key meetings
Afternoon/Evening: **PAACE Automechanika Expo Tennessee dinner/reception

Friday, July 20 (Optional activities)
All day: Participants depart Morning: Tour of manufacturing facility/Meeting (TBA)
Afternoon/Evening: **PAACE Automechanika Expo

*Dates are set, though activities listed for each day are subject to change at the discretion of the TNTrade Team.

**The state of Tennessee has a booth at the PAACE Automechanika Expo. The expo is open 2- 9pm. Participants will have access to and participate in the booth on Wednesday and Thursday. Friday is optional. Additional details will be provided to trade mission participants.

Please DO NOT apply to join the trade mission if your company does not meet ALL of the requirements above.

PLEASE CONTACT PATRICK BAIRD AT (615) 532-1938 OR EMAIL ecd.tntrade@tn.gov WITH ANY QUESTIONS. A member of the TNTrade team will confirm receipt of your application and will request follow-up information when necessary.

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FAQ

How do companies apply to participate in the trade mission?

Please complete the required documents and mail them to: TNTrade c/o Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development,
Attn: Patrick Baird,
312 Rosa L. Parks Avenue,
11th Floor, Nashville, TN 37243 on or before May 23, 2012. Companies selected to participate in the trade mission will be notified after June 15, 2012.

What companies are eligible to participate in the trade mission?

Companies that satisfy each of the seven criteria listed above are invited to apply to join the trade mission. Certain elements of the application process are designed to confirm that each applicant satisfies these criteria.

How will companies be selected to attend the trade mission?

Applicants that are deemed to have the highest probability of success in exporting their products or services by the U.S. Commercial Service will be invited to join the trade mission. Automotive OEM and aftermarket supply companies will be given priority.

Why are automotive OEM and aftermarket supply companies given priority in the application process over other companies?

The trade mission is designed especially for Automotive OEM and aftermarket supply companies. The mission will be centered around the PAACE Automechanika exposition in Mexico City, Mexico.

Nevertheless, any company in the automotive industry that meets all of the requirements set forth above is invited to apply to participate in the trade mission.

Are companies that already export products/services to Mexico invited to participate in the trade mission?

Yes. Any company seeking to export products/services to Mexico is welcome to apply to participate in the trade mission, including those that currently export to Mexico.

What are the dates of the trade mission?

The trade mission will begin Tuesday, July 17, 2012 in Mexico City, Mexico and it will end Friday, July 20, 2012. The participants will spend three nights in Mexico City. Trade Mission participants will arrive no later than the evening of Tuesday, July 17, 2012. Participants may choose to arrive before July 17, but any lodging expenses incurred on those nights will be the responsibility of the participants (discounted room rates will be available on these dates, however).

What activities will occur during the trade mission?

Participants will be provided with Gold Key business to business meetings with potential customers and partners in Mexico City. These meetings will be arranged by the U.S. Commercial Service. Participants will also visit the PAACE Automechanika Exposition. Market overview presentations will also be provided by the U.S. Commercial Service.

What expenses will participants be responsible for during the trade mission?

Lodging, Gold Key Business to Business Services as well as all ground transportation expenses in Mexico City will be provided to two representatives of each company invited to join the trade mission free of charge. Participants will be responsible for their flights to and from Mexico City and for food, as well as any sightseeing activities.

If a company is not selected to participate in the trade mission but would like to attend the PAACE Automechanika Exhibition anyway, would a portion of their travel expenses to and from Mexico City qualify for reimbursement under the TNTrade Market Access Program (MAP)?

Yes. Companies that are not invited to join the trade mission will be permitted to apply for MAP to fund a portion of their travel expenses should they choose to attend the trade show in Mexico City.

Can a company selected to participate in the trade mission be reimbursed for a portion of their travel expenses to and from Asia under the TNTrade Market Access Program (MAP)?

No. Companies invited to join the trade mission will not be permitted to apply for MAP to fund a portion of their trade mission travel expenses; each company will be responsible for airfare to and from Mexico City.

Are all automotive-related companies welcome to apply for the mission?

Lubricant manufacturers, suppliers and distributors are NOT encouraged to apply for the mission due to extremely low market potential as a result of an abundance of existing suppliers.

When and where will the trip orientation take place?

Participants will attend a half-day trade mission orientation session in late June or early July 2012 in Nashville. Lodging the night before the event will be provided free of charge. Participants will be notified of details regarding this event as they come available.

Who should I contact with additional questions about the trade mission?

Please contact Patrick Baird at (615) 532-1938 or email: ecd.tntrade@tn.gov with any questions about the trade mission.

ABOUT ECD

The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development’s mission is to create higher skilled, better paying jobs for all Tennesseans. The department seeks to attract new corporate investment in Tennessee and works with Tennessee companies to facilitate expansion and economic growth. To find out more, go to www.tn.gov/ecd.

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