REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
November 3, 2026
FROM
DEEPAK BAHL, Director, Economic Development
SUBJECT
Title
Out of Country Travel Request
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Approve out-of-country travel request for a five-person delegation of County representatives to travel to Singapore and Bengaluru, India, at a total not-to-exceed cost of $44,535, from January 30, 2027 through February 6, 2027, to represent the County at the SelectUSA Roadshow for the purposes of attracting foreign direct investment to the County.
(Presenter: Deepak Bahl, Economic Development Director, 387-4385)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Promote and Fulfill the Countywide Vision.
Create, Maintain and Grow Employment Opportunities and Economic Value in the County.
Foster Sustainable Development Through Strategic Partnerships.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of additional Discretionary General Funding, Net County Cost. The cost to attend the SelectUSA Roadshow (Roadshow) is estimated to be $8,907 per attendee. Sufficient appropriation is included in the Economic Development Department’s 2026-27 budget to fund these costs.
The estimated costs include the participation fee, air travel, lodging, meals and incidentals.
|
Category |
Expense per person |
Total Amount |
|
Participation Fee |
$2,800 per Participants |
$14,000 |
|
Air Travel |
$2,500 per participants |
$12,500 |
|
Lodging - 6 nights |
$305 a night x 6 nights = $1,830 per participants |
$9,150 |
|
Meals & Incidentals Singapore |
Meals: $130 per day X 3 days = $ 390 First day of Travel $73 Incidentals $32 a day x 3 = 96 Total is $559 per person |
$2,795 |
|
Meals & Incidentals India |
Meals: $108 per day X 3 days = $ 324 Last day of Travel= $63 Incidentals $27 per day X 3 days = $81 Total is $468 per person |
$2,340 |
|
Ground transport/local travel |
$125 per day x 6 days per = $750 |
$3,750 |
|
Totals: |
$8,907 |
$44,535 |
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Approval of this item will allow County representatives from the Economic Development Department, County Administrative Office, and Board of Supervisors to participate in the Roadshow in Singapore and Bengaluru, India, to promote San Bernardino County as a prime location for foreign direct investment, international trade, business expansion, and job creation.
The Economic Development Department is involved in fostering a globally competitive economy by building a network of partnerships across multiple levels to drive international trade and attract foreign direct investment. These efforts support the creation of new jobs, improve access to capital for local businesses, boost productivity, and stimulate economic growth. This approach not only promotes local economic development but also strengthens the County’s position in the global marketplace.
The Roadshow is organized by the U.S. Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration, and SelectUSA. The Roadshow will take place in Singapore on February 2-3, 2027, and in Bengaluru, India, on February 4-5, 2027. The program will provide economic development organizations with opportunities to present to prospective investors, participate in one-on-one meetings, attend networking sessions, and engage with companies considering investment in the United States.
The Singapore portion of the Roadshow will include networking with the U.S. Embassy Singapore, Enterprise Singapore, the Singapore Business Federation, and key industry associations; presentations by economic development organizations; panel discussions regarding U.S. market access, taxes, site selection, hiring, and visas; success stories of Singapore companies operating in the United States; one-on-one meetings; and company visits. Key industry sectors identified for Singapore include artificial intelligence, aerospace, energy, food and beverage, healthcare and life sciences, logistics and distribution, semiconductors, robotics, manufacturing, quantum, and space technology.
The India portion of the Roadshow will include registration and networking, remarks and briefings from U.S. Embassy and Commercial Service representatives, investment seminars, presentations by economic development organizations, panel discussions, business-to-business matchmaking, site visits, and an investment fair. Key industry sectors identified for India include aerospace and defense, automotive manufacturing and design, advanced manufacturing and robotics, healthcare and life sciences, biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, electronics design and manufacturing, semiconductors, artificial intelligence, quantum, space technologies, and safety and security technologies.
Participation in the Roadshow will allow the County to engage directly with Singaporean and Indian companies interested in expanding into the United States. According to the Roadshow materials, Singapore foreign direct investment stock in the United States was $52.5 billion as of 2025, with more than 250 Singapore companies having a presence in 45 U.S. states. The materials also indicate that Indian foreign direct investment stock in the United States was $18.8 billion as of 2025, with more than 500 Indian companies having a presence across 45 U.S. states. These markets represent significant opportunities for business attraction and expansion efforts aligned with the County’s economic development strategy.
The approval of this item will allow County representatives to continue the momentum gained through prior international business attraction efforts, develop new connections with prospective investors, increase international trade opportunities, and attract foreign direct investment to San Bernardino County.
Per County Policy No. 08-04, prior approval for travel outside of the United States for County business must be authorized by the Board of Supervisors. Also per County Policy No. 08-04, the Roadshow constitutes an International Trade Mission and is the only trade mission that ED is planning for the 2026-2027 fiscal year.
PROCUREMENT
N/A
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Dawn Martin, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on October 19, 2026; County Finance and Administration (Eduardo Mora, Administrative Analyst, 387-4376) on October 19, 2026.