U.S. Aerospace & Defense Trade Mission to Romania and Poland

The goal of the trade mission is to create opportunities for U.S. companies to showcase their defense and aerospace equipment to Romania and Poland’s defense, security, and law enforcement authorities, to introduce U.S. firms to aerospace and defense stakeholders in the region, to assist U.S. companies in finding foreign business partners to export their products and services to Romania and Poland, and to develop stronger industry relationships. Participants in this mission will have an opportunity to connect with senior-level Romanian and Polish officials in a setting that facilitates progress on business development projects. For companies new to the market, this will be an opportunity to make initial contacts, learn more about defense opportunities in Southeastern Europe, and gain perspective from ITA on specific challenges for U.S. businesses operating in Romania and Poland. By participating in an official U.S. industry delegation, rather than traveling to the region individually, U.S. industry representatives will enhance their ability to secure meetings and gain greater exposure to the region, as well as leverage the networks of prescreened industry buyers, distributors, and industry stakeholders developed by commercial specialists.

Within the aerospace and defense industry the trade mission will focus on, but not be limited to, the following subsectors: 

• Tracked and Wheeled-Armored Vehicles,
• Artillery Systems
• Fighter Aircraft
• Used U.S. Fighter Aircraft Upgrades
• Replacement Parts and Service
• Helicopters (medium and heavy)
• Unmanned Aerial Systems
• C4ISR Systems,
• Low and Medium Altitude Radar Systems
• Individual and Group Armaments and Equipment,
• Powders and Explosives
• Smart Ammunition
• Satellite Communication and Surveillance Services
• Infrastructure (air bases and military sites)
• Defense Training and Consultation
• Cyber Defense

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 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. 

• 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. 

After a firm or trade association/organization 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 U.S. Aerospace & Defense Trade Mission to Romania and Poland will be:

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 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. Interpreter and driver services can be arranged for additional cost.
 
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 online - USG Travel Alerts.  Any question regarding insurance coverage must be resolved by the participant and its insurer of choice.

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 countries. 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 represented firm or service provider’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.  U.S. entities with ownership from foreign state-owned or subsidized parent organizations will be considered for participation on a case-by-case basis.  

Balance of applicant’s 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.

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 no later than September 29, 2023.  Applications received after September 29, 2023 will be considered only if space and scheduling constraints permit.  

Submitting an application is indication of your interest to participate in the mission. No fees are due at the time of registering your intent to join the mission. Once you are invited to join the mission payment of mission fees and the signature of the participation agreement is then due in order to participate in the mission.

IMPORTANT:  The Trade Mission is oversubscribed.  All applications received will be put on a wait list.

Add to waitlist for the Mission

• Bucharest, Romania  November 12-14, 2023
• Warsaw, Poland  November 15-17, 2023

Participants may participate in one stop or both.