Press Release: U.S. Trade and Development Agency
March 7, 2002
WASHINGTON, DC -- Tourism development in Eurasia will be the focus of a U.S. government-sponsored conference May
29-31 in Istanbul, Turkey. The event will help match U.S. companies with tourism infrastructure projects in 12
Eurasian countries.
Destination Eurasia: Building Infrastructure for Tourism will provide participants with information on large-scale
projects involving roads, airports, railways, hotels, resorts, parks, monuments and other cultural heritage sites.
Plans for tourism-related water treatment plants, power plants and telecommunications networks will also be featured.
The combined value of projects to be presented at the conference is expected to exceed $350 million.
Organized by the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (TDA), in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Commerce,
the conference will highlight opportunities in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia,
Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, as well as Turkey. Representatives of state-owned and private-sector
enterprises in the region will take part in the conference and present details on more than 20 projects currently
on the drawing boards. A series of pre-scheduled one-on- one meetings will also enable U.S. company participants
to meet privately with the project sponsors.
Also expected to participate are senior government officials from the U.S and the Eurasia region, U.S. commercial
service officers, and representatives of local companies interested in partnering with American firms. Representatives
of international lending institutions, including the U.S. Export-Import Bank and the Overseas Private Investment
Corporation, will also be on hand to discuss financing and loan guarantee programs available for projects.
``Travel and tourism is one of the key sectors driving economic development throughout the world,'' noted TDA Director
Thelma J. Askey. ``The countries participating in this conference have the history, culture, and natural beauty
to attract tourists, but require improvements in infrastructure to sustain and grow their tourism industries.''
Each U.S. participant will receive a comprehensive resource guide and CD- ROM outlining the projects presented,
including critical economic information, export potential, time lines, equipment needs and key contacts. ``This
conference will provide an unprecedented opportunity for U.S. companies to learn about new infrastructure project
opportunities in the region,'' said Askey.
Trade and industry organizations supporting the conference include the American Council of Engineering Companies,
the American Resort Development Association, the American Road and Transportation Builders Association, the Electric
Power Supply Association, the American-Turkish Council, the American- Georgia Business Council, the American Uzbekistan
Chamber of Commerce, the U.S.-Azerbaijan Chamber of Commerce, the U.S.-Kazakhstan Business Association, the U.S.-Ukraine
Foundation, the U.S.-Russia Business Council and DEIK - the Turkish Foreign Economic Relations Board.
The U.S. Trade and Development Agency helps form mutually beneficial partnerships between U.S. private-sector companies
and overseas sponsors. An agency of the U.S. government, TDA provides assistance in more than 60 nations around
the world each year.
For registration or more information, visit the conference web site, www.trademeetings.com
or contact Dan Lamey at telephone 1-866-636-4729. Email address: tda@mfmgroup.com.
SOURCE: U.S. Trade and Development Agency