[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 8 (Wednesday, January 12, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1851-1852]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-461]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
Commerce Advisory Committee on Africa: Membership
AGENCY: International Trade Administration, Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of committee establishment and membership opportunity.
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SUMMARY: A committee comprised of U.S. businesses active in Sub-Saharan
Africa is to be established to advise the Secretary on issues of U.S.
commercial policy in Africa. This action is taken to ensure regular
consultation with the U.S. business community and to reflect its views
in the Clinton Administration's Africa Initiative. The Advisory
Committee will meet quarterly, or more often as determined by the
Secretary.
DATES: In order to receive full consideration, requests must be
received no later than January 27, 2000.
ADDRESSES: Please send your requests for consideration to Mrs. S. K.
Miller, Director, Office of Africa by fax on 202/482-5198 or by mail at
Room 2037, U.S. Department of Commerce, Washington, DC 20230.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mrs. S. K. Miller, Director, Office of
Africa, Room 2037, U.S. Department of Commerce, Washington, DC 20230;
telephone: 202/482-4227.
Notice of Committee Establishment
In accordance with the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee
Act, 5 U.S.C. App. 2, and the General Services Administration (GSA)
rule on Federal Advisory Committee Management, 41 CFR Part 101-6, and,
after consultation with GSA, the Secretary of Commerce has determined
that the establishment of the Advisory Committee on Africa is in the
public interest in connection with the performance of duties imposed on
the Department by law.
In furtherance of the President's Africa Initiative, the Committee
will advise the Secretary, through the Under Secretary for
International Trade, on
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U.S. commercial policy on trade with Sub-Saharan Africa.
The ACA will be composed of not more than 21 individuals
representing companies, and will be chaired by Secretary of Commerce
William M. Daley. To assure a balanced representation of interests,
members will be selected based on the criteria set forth below, to
obtain a balance in industry sectors, company size, location, gender
and ethnic representation.
The Committee will function solely as an advisory body, and in
compliance with the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act.
The Charter will be filed under the Act, fifteen days from the
publication of this notice.
The inaugural meeting of the ACA is expected to take place during
the first quarter of the year 2000 Meetings will be scheduled quarterly
throughout the year at the Department's headquarters. Additional
meetings may be called as determined by the Secretary.
Notice of Opportunity to Apply for Membership
Membership Obligations
Members will be expected to serve a term of two years. However, to
set up a staggered membership renewal, one third of the private sector
members from this initial appointment will serve for a two year term; a
second third will serve for a three year term and a final third for a
four year term. Each year, a third of the ACA membership will be
replaced.
Nominations are now being sought for private sector members to
serve for a two, three, or four year period from January 1, 2000 until
December 31, 2001-2004, respectively. Members will serve at the
discretion of the Secretary and shall serve as representatives of the
business community and, specifically, the industry in which their
business is engaged. They are expected to participate fully in
implementing the Committee's work program. It is expected that private
sector individuals chosen for ACA membership will attend not less than
75% of the ACA meetings each year.
Private sector members are fully responsible for travel, per diem,
and personal expenses associated with their participation on the ACA.
The ACA will work on issues of common interest to encourage trade
and investment, including the following:
--Resolving obstacles to trade and investment between the United States
and Africa;
--Expanding commercial activity between the United States and Africa
and identifying commercial opportunities;
--Developing sectoral or project-oriented approaches to expand business
opportunities;
--Identifying further steps to facilitate and encourage the development
of commercial expansion between the United States and Africa; and
--Taking any other appropriate steps for fostering commercial relations
between the U.S. and Africa.
Criteria
In order to be eligible for membership in the U.S. section,
potential candidates must be:
(1) U.S. citizens or permanent residents;
(2) CEOs or other senior management level employees of a U.S.
company or organization with demonstrated involvement in trade with
and/or investment in Sub-Saharan Africa who will participate in not
less than 75% of the meetings, which will be held in the United States.
Representative nominated should be the individual who will actively
participate in the ACA);
(3) Not a Registered Foreign Agent; and
(4) Actively doing business in Sub-Saharan Africa or actively
developing entry plans for doing business in Sub-Saharan Africa.
To the extent possible, the Department of Commerce will strive to
achieve membership composition that reflects U.S. entrepreneurial
diversity. Therefore, in reviewing eligible candidates, the Department
of Commerce will consider such selection factors as:
(1) Depth of experience in the Sub-Saharan African market;
(2) Export/investment experience;
(3) Representation of industry or service sectors of importance to
our commercial relationship with Sub-Saharan Africa;
(4) Company size or, if an organization, size and number of member
companies;
(5) Location of company or organization; and
(6) Contribution to the Committee's ethnic and gender diversity.
To apply for membership, please provide a company information sheet
and a personal resume and any other pertinent information which
demonstrate how the applicant satisfies the selection criteria
identified.
Authority: 15 U.S.C. 1501 et seq.; Reorganization Plan No. 3 of
1979, 19 U.S.C. 2171 Note, 5 U.S.C. App. 2.
Sally Miller,
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Africa.
[FR Doc. 00-461 Filed 1-11-00; 8:45 am]
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