Sub-Saharan Africa Rail and Port Trade Mission

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:

Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises - $5,775.00
Large Firms - $6,600.00
Each Additional firm representative (Large Firm or SME/Trade Organization) - $1,000.00

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 the mission is cancelled, no personal expenses paid in anticipation of the 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 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 is required.  Upon notification of acceptance to participate, those selected have 5 business days to submit payment or the acceptance may be revoked.

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.  South African and Angolan 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.

Business Development Mission members participate in missions and undertake mission-related travel at their own risk.  The nature of the security situation in each 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/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html/

Any questions regarding insurance coverage must be resolved by the participant and it insurer of choice.

Travel and in-person activities are contingent upon the safety and health conditions in the United States and the mission economies.  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.

Applicants must submit a signed mission application and supplemental application materials, including adequate information on their products and/or services, primary market objectives, and goals for participation that are adequate to allow the Department of Commerce to evaluate their application.  If the Department of Commerce receives an incomplete application, the Department of Commerce may either:  reject the applications, request additional information/clarification, or take the lack of information into account when evaluating the applications.  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 the U.S. firm and have at least 51% 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, are 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 and agree to the above for every company it seeks to represent on the mission.  In addition, each applicant must:

* Certify that the products and services that is 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 is 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 the 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.

Targeted mission participants are U.S. firms, service 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 destinations.  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) potential for business in the markets;

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

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

Balance of applicants' 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.

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 (Trade Missions Schedule) 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 June 27, 2025.  The U.S. Department of Commerce will review applications and inform applicants of selection decisions on a rolling basis.  Applications received after June 27, 2025, will be considered only if space and scheduling constraints permit.

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