TELECOM TRADE MISSION TO SPAIN AND PORTUGAL March 16, 1997 Contact: Myles Denny-Brown Phone: (202) 482-0398 TRADE EVENT NOTICE TELECOM TRADE MISSION TO SPAIN & PORTUGAL The Department of Commerce invites U.S. telecommunications firms to join an executive-level trade mission to Madrid and Barcelona, Spain and Lisbon, Portugal on May 3-8, 1998, which will be led by Ellis R. Mottur, Acting Assistant Secretary for Trade Development. The emerging markets of Spain and Portugal are growing rapidly due to the opportunities being opened up by liberalization of telecom services. Valued at $12 billion in 1997, the Spanish market for telecom services is expected to expand by 13% in 1998, due primarily to the inauguration of competition in basic telecom services. Due to liberalization of mobile and data communications, the Portuguese market for telecom services, now valued at $4 billion, is expected to continue growing at an annual rate of 18% until the year 2000, when Portugal is committed to liberalize basic telecom services. This growth in telecom services and competition in providing associated infrastructure is stimulating faster growth in the Spanish and Portuguese markets for telecom equipment, which were valued at $3.2 billion and $930 million in 1997. The mission provides an efficient means of obtaining first-hand market information and access to key Spanish and Portuguese government officials and potential business partners for U.S. telecom equipment manufacturers and service providers desiring to expand their presence in the region. Mission participants wishing to visit any one of five neighboring European countries before or after this Trade Mission may obtain Gold Key Service from the U.S. Foreign Commercial Service there at a discounted price. Participation in the Trade Mission is limited to the first 15 U.S. firms that complete application requirements (including the participation fee of $3,000), by April 3. Requests for further information should be addressed promptly to the Project Officer at the Commerce Department, Myles Denny-Brown, by fax at (202)482-5834, phone at (202) 482-0398 or e-mail (myles_denny-brown@ita.doc.gov). WEB: Click here to view Office of Telecommunications Home Page and Trade Event Announcement, http://infoserv2.ita.doc.gov/ot/home.nsf. E-MAIL: Click here to contact Myles Denny-Brown, myles_denny-brown@ita.doc.gov.

Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0437 19980319\SP-0002.MSC)