[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 4 (Wednesday, January 7, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 694]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-59]
[[Page 694]]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
Notice of Vacancies on the U.S.-Iraq Business Dialogue
AGENCY: International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Commerce and the Iraqi Ministry of
Trade established the U.S.-Iraq Business Dialogue (Business Dialogue or
Dialogue) in July 2006. This notice announces four open membership
opportunities for American representatives to join the U.S. section of
the Dialogue.
DATES: Applications must be received no later than January 21, 2008; 5
p.m. EST.
ADDRESSES: Please send requests for consideration to Ms. Susan Hamrock
Mann, Director, Iraq Investment and Reconstruction Task Force, U.S.
Department of Commerce, either by fax on 202-482-0980 or by mail to
U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW., Mail
Stop 3868, Washington, DC 20230.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Kevin M. Reichelt, Office of the
Middle East, U.S. Department of Commerce, Room 2029-B, Washington, DC
20230. Phone: 202-482-2896.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The U.S. Department of Commerce and the
Iraqi Ministry of Trade established the Dialogue as a bilateral forum
to facilitate private sector business growth in Iraq and to strengthen
trade and investment ties between the United States and Iraq. During
Secretary of Commerce Carlos M. Gutierrez's visit to Iraq in July 2006,
he joined Iraqi Minister of Trade Dr. Abd-al-Falah al-Sudani in signing
the Joint Statement on Commercial Cooperation, which formally provided
for the establishment of the Dialogue. In their next meeting in
September 2006, the Secretary and the Minister approved and signed the
Terms of Reference for the Dialogue.
The U.S. Secretary of Commerce and the Iraqi Minister of Trade co-
chair the Dialogue. The Dialogue consists of a U.S. Section and an
Iraqi Section. Each Section consists of members from the private
sector, representing the views and interests of the private sector
business community. Each Party appoints the members to its respective
Section. The Sections provide advice and counsel to the U.S. Department
of Commerce and the Iraqi Ministry of Trade that reflect private sector
views, needs, and concerns regarding private sector business
development in Iraq and enhanced bilateral commercial ties that could
form the basis for expanded trade between the United States and Iraq.
The Dialogue will exchange information and encourage bilateral
discussions that address the following areas:
--Factors that affect the growth of private sector business in Iraq,
including disincentives to trade and investment and regulatory
obstacles to job creation and investment growth;
--Initiatives that the Government of Iraq might take, such as enacting,
amending, enforcing, or repealing laws and regulations, to promote
private sector business growth in Iraq;
--Promotion of business opportunities in both Iraq and the United
States, and identification of opportunities for U.S. and Iraqi firms to
work together; and
--Attracting U.S. businesses to opportunities in Iraq and serving as a
catalyst for Iraqi private sector growth.
The members will represent a cross-section of American business
with an emphasis, to the extent possible, on agribusiness and food
processing, financial services and private equity, construction and
housing, information technology, consumer products, and manufacturing
industries. The following sectors currently are represented on the U.S.
Section of the USIBD: Telecommunications; petroleum; construction
equipment; financial; and logistics. Applications to represent any
sector will be considered. However, in an effort to expand the sectors
represented on the U.S. Section of the Dialogue, the Department
particularly encourages applications from persons who would represent
the consumer goods and services, private equity, health, aviation, and
electricity sectors.
Members serve in a representative capacity representing the views
and interests of their particular industries. Members are not special
government employees, and receive no compensation for their
participation in Dialogue activities. Only appointed members may
participate in official Dialogue meetings; substitutes and alternates
will not be designated. Section members serve for three-year terms, but
may be reappointed. U.S. Section members serve at the discretion of the
U.S. Department of Commerce.
The U.S. Department of Commerce is currently seeking candidates for
four membership positions on the U.S. Section of the Dialogue.
Candidates will be evaluated based on: Their interest in the Iraqi
market; export/investment experience; contribution to diversity based
on size of company, geographic location, and sector; and ability to
initiate and be responsible for activities in which the Business
Dialogue will be active.
In order to be eligible for membership in the U.S. section,
potential candidates shall be:
--A U.S. citizen residing in the United States, or able to travel to
the United States or other location to attend official Business
Dialogue meetings;
--The President or CEO (or comparable level of responsibility) of a
private sector company; if the company is very large, the head of a
sizeable operating unit of that company; or the head of a non-profit
entity, such as a trade or industry association, who possesses unique
technical expertise, an outstanding reputation, and the ability to
provide counsel with respect to private sector business development in
Iraq; and
--Not a registered foreign agent under the Foreign Agents Registration
Act of 1938, as amended.
Members will be selected on the basis of who best will carry out
the objectives of the Business Dialogue as stated in the Terms of
Reference establishing the Dialogue. (The Terms of Reference are
available from the point of contact listed above.) Recommendations for
appointment will be made to the Secretary of Commerce. All candidates
will be notified of whether they have been selected.
To be considered for membership, please submit the following
information as instructed in the addresses and dates captions above:
Name(s) and title(s) of the individual(s) requesting consideration;
name and address of company or non-profit entity to be represented;
size of the company or non-profit entity; description of relevant
product, service, or technical expertise; size of company's export
trade, investment, and/or international program experience; nature of
operations or interest in Iraq; and a brief statement of why the
candidate should be appointed, including information about the
candidate's ability to initiate and be responsible for activities in
which the Business Dialogue will be active.
Dated: January 2, 2008.
Susan Hamrock Mann,
Director, Iraq Investment and Reconstruction Task Force.
[FR Doc. E9-59 Filed 1-6-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DA-P