The orientation visit (OV) by the group from the Ukraine's Donbass coal region was scheduled for January 20-31, 2007 to review CMM products, technologies and management methods. Sponsored by the US Trade and Development Agency, the agency confirmed Tuesday it has decided to reschedule the visit in the US springtime.

“The delegates encountered a scheduling conflict and regretfully requested a postponement. While not common, this does happen with OVs from time to time,” said USTDA Ukraine Country Development manager Barbora Jemelkova. She said the new OV dates would not be known until January.

Because of that, the business meetings associated with the visit will also be on hold until the new dates are confirmed. “However, any US business interested in meeting with the delegation is welcome to contact USTDA at any time for more information,” she said.

Once the OV is rescheduled, Jemelkova confirmed that the agency will publicise the new information on its website as well as through newsletters and emails to get the word out to interested parties.

Earlier this week, she noted that the Ukraine tour is not the first for the agency department. Other such delegations have been funded in the past from India, Botswana and China, all with the potential for insight from both the US and the visiting country and with significant export revenue capabilities.