[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 176 (Thursday, September 11, 2014)] [Notices] [Pages 54266-54268] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 2014-21701] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE International Trade Administration President's Advisory Council on Doing Business in Africa AGENCY: International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce. ACTION: Notice of establishment of and an opportunity to apply for membership on the President's Advisory Council on Doing Business in Africa. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as directed by the President in Executive Order No. 13675 Establishing the President's Advisory Council on Doing Business in Africa of August 5, 2014, has recently established the President's Advisory Council [[Page 54267]] (Advisory Council) on Doing Business in Africa and is seeking applications for membership. The purpose of the Advisory Council is to advise the President through Secretary of Commerce on strengthening commercial engagement between the United States and Africa, with a focus on advancing the President's Doing Business in Africa Campaign as described in the U.S. Strategy Toward Sub-Saharan Africa of June 14, 2012. DATES: All applications must be received by the Office of Advisory Committees and Industry Outreach by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) on Tuesday, September 30, 2014. ADDRESSES: Please submit applications by email to [email protected], attention: Tricia Van Orden, Office of Advisory Committees and Industry Outreach, President's Advisory Council on Doing Business in Africa Executive Secretariat or by mail to Tricia Van Orden, Office of Advisory Committees and Industry Outreach, President's Advisory Council on Doing Business in Africa, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW., Suite 4043, Washington, DC 20230. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: President's Advisory Council on Doing Business in Africa Executive Secretariat, U.S. Department of Commerce, Room 4043, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230, telephone: 202-482-4501, email: [email protected]. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The President's Advisory Council on Doing Business in Africa (Advisory Council) is established pursuant to Executive Order No. 13675 dated August 5, 2014, for a two-year period ending August 5, 2016. This Advisory Council has been established in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), as amended, 5 U.S.C. App., to advise the President through the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) on strengthening commercial engagement between the United States and Africa, with a focus on advancing the President's Doing Business in Africa Campaign as described in the U.S. Strategy Toward Sub-Saharan Africa of June 14, 2012 (http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/docs/africa_strategy_2.pdf). The Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration, Office of Advisory Committees and Industry Outreach, is accepting applications for Advisory Council members. The Advisory Council shall provide information, analysis, and recommendations to the President that address the following, in addition to other topics deemed relevant by the President, the Secretary, or the Advisory Council: (i) Creating jobs in the United States and Africa through trade and investment; (ii) developing strategies by which the U.S. private sector can identify and take advantage of trade and investment opportunities in Africa; (iii) building lasting commercial partnerships between the U.S. and African private sectors; (iv) facilitating U.S. business participation in Africa's infrastructure development; (v) contributing to the growth and improvement of Africa's agricultural sector by encouraging partnerships between U.S. and African companies to bring innovative agricultural technologies to Africa; (vi) making available to the U.S. private sector an accurate understanding of the opportunities presented for increasing trade with and investment in Africa; (vii) developing and strengthening partnerships and other mechanisms to increase U.S. public and private sector financing of trade with and investment in Africa; (viii) analyzing the effect of policies in the United States and Africa on U.S. trade and investment interests in Africa; (ix) identifying other means to expand commercial ties between the United States and Africa; and (x) building the capacity of Africa's young entrepreneurs to develop trade and investment ties with U.S. partners. The Advisory Council shall consist of not more than 15 private- sector corporate members representing U.S. companies, including small businesses and representatives from infrastructure, agriculture, consumer goods, banking, services, and other industries. The Advisory Council shall be broadly representative of the key industries with business interests in the functions of the Advisory Council as set forth above. Each Advisory Council member shall serve as the representative of a U.S. company engaged in activities involving trade, investment, development or finance with African markets. The Department particularly seeks applicants who are active executives (Chief Executive Officer, Executive Chairman, President or comparable level of responsibility); however, for very large companies, a person having substantial responsibility for the company's commercial activities in Africa may be considered. For eligibility purposes, a ``U.S. company'' is a for-profit firm incorporated in the United States or with its principal place of business in the United States that is (a) majority controlled (more than 50 percent ownership interest and/or voting stock) by U.S. citizens or by another U.S. entity or (b) majority controlled (more than 50 percent ownership interest and/or voting stock) directly or indirectly by a foreign parent company. Members are not required to be a U.S. citizen; however, members may not be registered as a foreign agent under the Foreign Agents Registration Act. Additionally, no member shall represent a company that is majority owned or controlled by a foreign government entity or entities. Members of the Advisory Council will be selected, in accordance with applicable Department of Commerce guidelines, based on their ability to carry out the objectives of the Advisory Council as set forth above. Members shall be selected in a manner that ensures that the Advisory Council is balanced in terms of points of view, industry subsector, activities in and with African markets, range of products and services, demographics, geography, and company size. Additional factors which will be considered in the selection of Advisory Council members include candidates' proven leadership and experience in the trade, investment, financing, development, or other commercial activities between the United States and Africa. Priority may be given to active executives (Chief Executive Officer, Executive Chairman, President or comparable level of responsibility). Appointments to the Advisory Council shall be made without regard to political affiliation. The Secretary appoints the members of the Advisory Council in consultation with the Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee (TPCC), a Federal interagency group led by the Secretary of Commerce tasked with coordinating export promotion and export financing activities of the U.S. Government and development of a government-wide strategic plan to carry out such activities. Members shall serve a term of two years, at the pleasure of the Secretary. Members shall serve in a representative capacity, representing the views and interests of their particular industry sector. Advisory Council members are not special government employees, and will receive no compensation for their participation in Advisory Council activities. Members participating in Advisory Council meetings and events will be responsible for their travel, living and other personal expenses. Meetings will be held regularly and, to the extent practical, not less than twice annually, in Washington, DC, or other locations as [[Page 54268]] feasible. Teleconference meetings may also be held as needed. To be considered for membership, submit the following information by 5:00 p.m. EDT on September 30 to the email or mailing address listed in the ADDRESSES section: 1. Name and title of the individual requesting consideration. 2. A sponsor letter from the applicant on his or her company letterhead containing a brief statement of why the applicant should be considered for membership on the Advisory Council. This sponsor letter should also address the applicant's experience and leadership related to trade, investment, financing, development, or other commercial activities between the United States and Africa. 3. The applicant's personal resume and short bio (less than 300 words). 4. An affirmative statement that the applicant meets all eligibility criteria, including an affirmative statement that the applicant is not required to register as a foreign agent under the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938, as amended. 5. Information regarding the ownership and control of the company, including the stock holdings as appropriate, signifying compliance with the criteria set forth above. 6. The company's size, product or service line, and major markets in which the company operates. 7. A profile of the company's trade, investment, development, finance, partnership, or other commercial activities in or with African markets. 8. Brief statement describing how the applicant will contribute to the work of the Advisory Council based on his or her unique experience and perspective (not to exceed 100 words). Dated: September 8, 2014. Jennifer Pilat, Director, Office of Advisory Committees & Industry Outreach. [FR Doc. 2014-21701 Filed 9-10-14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-DR-P