• West Africa ICT Road Map to Opportunities Conference

  The U.S. Trade and Development Agency, the U.S. Department of State and the Government of Ghana sponsored the West Africa Road Map to Opportunities Conference from July 8 to 10, 2008 at the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel in Accra, Ghana. BCIU won the contract to organize and host the conference. The goal of the conference was to promote a dialogue on the development of the ICT sector necessary to support West Africa’s economic development.

  The conference agenda addressed key policy issues and highlighted efforts to expand telecommunications infrastructure; improve delivery of government services; and support the growth of e-commerce. In particular, the event is focused on regional market creation and cross-border cooperation on wireless technologies and included an examination of ICT in the areas of e-Commerce and e-Government in West Africa.

  Project sponsors from West Africa at the event provided U.S. company representatives with details on new export and investment opportunities associated with 16 projects ranging in value from $1 million - $450 million. Participating countries at the event include Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Gabon, Ghana, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, and Sierra Leone. The projects presented included opportunities for commercial partnerships in expanding communication networks; developing fiber optic backbone networks and submarine communications systems; implementing solutions for rural connectivity; and the provision of e-Government; e-Learning, and telemedicine services.

  Corporate conference sponsors included Alcatel-Lucent Corporation, Microsoft, Oracle, Intel, Motorola, QUALCOMM, DiscoveryTel, and Telecom/Telematique, Inc. Each company shared their perspective on ICT development and how different solutions may benefit long-term growth in West Africa.

• China Healthcare Information Technology Orientation Visit

  USTDA sponsored a 12-day Orientation Visit for twelve representatives from China’s Ministry of Health and various hospitals, with the objective of showcasing U.S. technology and services in the healthcare sector in order to address the technological needs for China to further develop its healthcare technology infrastructure. BCIU organized the Orientation Visit from February 24 to March 8, 2008, which included stops in the Orlando, FL, California Bay Area and Washington, D.C. The delegation also attended the Healthcare Technology Management Systems Society annual conference and exhibition in Orlando, FL.

  The purpose of the OV was to promote U.S. exports and to provide technological solutions for China to further develop its healthcare infrastructure. Officials from China hoped to gain insight to improve agency coordination; to reform the hospital system; to promote efficiency; and realign health costs by promoting laws to encourage the development of a health insurance system.

  The itinerary for the OV comprised of site visits and meetings with U.S. companies and U.S. government agencies to allow the delegation to interact with entities involved in U.S. healthcare policy, implementation, and innovation.

• ASEAN e-Government and ICT Projects Orientation Visit

  USTDA sponsored a 12-day Orientation Visit for government and industry representatives from selected countries within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The aim of this visit was to learn about U.S. capabilities, experiences and practices in the implementation of e-government and information and communications technology projects.

  Several major projects in the ICT sector, including a number of e-Government initiatives, are being pursued by ASEAN countries, with procurement opportunities totaling over $1.5 billion. This OV provided decision-makers from these countries an opportunity to learn more about U.S. capabilities, experiences, and practices in the implementation of e-Government and other ICT sector projects. The OV also allowed U.S. companies with an interest in these procurements to highlight their expertise in this sector.

  BCIU was subcontracted by USTDA to organize the OV from December 2 to December 15, 2007, and included stops in the California Bay Area and Washington, D.C. BCIU arranged various meetings for the delegates with U.S. Government representatives, associations, and U.S. companies specializing in e-Government technology. A Business Briefing and a World Bank Policy Roundtable were held in Washington, D.C.

• Europe Regional Emergency Management and Response Conference

  USTDA sponsored a Europe Regional Emergency Management and Response Conference from October 29 to 31, 2007 at the Corinthia Grand Hotel Royal in Budapest, Hungary. BCIU won the contract to organize and host the conference.

  To increase their capabilities for handling both natural and man-made disasters, the countries of Central Europe and Turkey are preparing to modernize their emergency management and response systems. However, millions of dollars of investment is needed in order to replace and upgrade monitoring, warning, and command and control systems. Governments to be represented at the conference include Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Serbia, the Slovak Republic, and Turkey.

  In addition to USTDA, other U.S. Government agencies represented include the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the National Weather Service, the U.S. Forestry Service, the U.S. Geological Survey, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Department of Commerce, the U.S. Export-Import Bank, and the Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance. Approximately 50 U.S. companies were represented with strong environmental monitoring, forecasting and IEMS product offerings.

• China Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) e-Government Capacity Program Orientation Visit

  USTDA sponsored a 12-day Orientation Visit for 14 officials from China’s Ministry of Commerce. The aim of this visit was to upgrade MOFCOM’s on-line electronic systems related to government rules, regulations, and procurement opportunities through the inclusion of advanced information technology systems. BCIU organized the Orientation Visit on June 10-22, 2007, which included stops in the California Bay Area and Washington, D.C. BCIU arranged various meetings for the delegates with U.S. Government representatives, associations and U.S. companies specializing in e-government technology. Business and policy briefings were also held in both cities.

• Training Program for Serbia’s Telecommunication Regulatory Agency (RATEL)

  The primary objective of the training program managed by BCIU was to provide training in and exposure to key telecommunications regulatory frameworks, skills, and experience while enabling RATEL to adopt and implement regulatory procedures in accordance with established guidelines from legal, policy, and regulatory perspectives.

  The program commenced in November 2006 with a scoping visit to Belgrade by two telecommunications experts who met with RATEL staff and other stakeholders to identify issues and priorities for assistance. In January 2007, six RATEL delegates visited the U.S. for an intensive two-week regulatory training program managed by the Public Utility Research Center, which included a visit to the Federal Communications Commission as well as a Telecommunications Industry Roundtable. The final phase of the program comprised several extended visits by the telecommunications experts to Belgrade, to assist RATEL staff on priority projects identified during the experts’ scoping visit.

For more information about BCIU’s Government Contracts activities, or about the specific programs implemented, please contact BCIU’s Government Contracts Manager at (212) 490-0460.