Committees; establishment, renewal, termination, etc.: Africa Commerce Advisory Committee,

[Federal Register: January 12, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 8)]

[Notices]

[Page 1851-1852]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr12ja00-47]

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.

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 filedunder 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. 00-461Filed1-11-00; 8:45 am]

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