[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 67 (Friday, April 5, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15222-15223]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-8461]



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[[Page 15223]]



DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

U.S.-South Africa Business Development Committee: Membership

ACTION: Notice of Membership Opportunity.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce is currently seeking nominations of 
outstanding individuals to serve on the U.S. section of the U.S.-South 
Africa Business Development Committee (BDC). On June 4, 1994, Secretary 
of Commerce Ronald H. Brown and South African Minister of Trade and 
Industry Trevor Manuel signed the document establishing the BDC, the 
purpose of which is to provide a forum for the public and private 
sectors to engage in constructive exchanges of information on 
commercial matters, problem solve, and more effectively work together 
on issues of common interest. The BDC is composed of two sections, a 
U.S. section and a South African section. The U.S. Section is chaired 
by Secretary of Commerce Ronald H. Brown and is comprised of 21 private 
sector representatives. The inaugural meeting of the BDC took place 
September 19-20, 1994. Subsequent plenary and working group meetings 
have been held over the past two years with the government and private 
sector members from both countries in attendance.

OBLIGATIONS: Private sector members were originally appointed for a two 
year term. Nominations are now being sought for private sector members 
to serve for a two year period from July 1, 1996 until June 30, 1998. 
Private sector members will serve at the discretion of the Secretary 
and shall serve as representatives of the business community and the 
industry their business represents. They are expected to participate 
fully in defining the agenda for the Committee and in implementing its 
work program. It is expected that private sector individuals chosen for 
BDC membership will attend not less than 75% of the BDC meetings which 
will be held in the United States and South Africa.
    Private sector members are fully responsible for travel, living and 
personal expenses associated with their participation on the BDC and 
may be responsible for a pro rata share of administrative and 
communications costs of the BDC.
    The BDC will continue to work on issues of common interest to 
encourage trade and investment, including the following:

--Resolving obstacles to trade and investment between the two 
countries;
--Expanding commercial activity between both countries and identifying 
commercial opportunities;
--Developing sectoral or project-oriented approaches to expand business 
opportunities;
--Implementing trade and business development programs, including trade 
missions, seminars, exhibits and other events;
--Identifying further steps to facilitate and encourage the development 
of commercial expansion between the two countries; and
--Taking any other appropriate steps for fostering commercial relations 
between the U.S. and South 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 South Africa who will participate in not less than 
75% of the BDC meetings, which will be held in the United States and 
South Africa. (The representative nominated should be the individual 
that will actively participate in the BDC);
    (3) Not a registered Foreign Agent; and
    (4) Actively doing business in South Africa or actively developing 
entry plans for doing business in South 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 South African market;
    (2) Export/investment experience;
    (3) Representation of industry or service sectors of importance to 
our commercial relationship with South Africa;
    (4) Company size or, if an organization, size and number of member 
companies;
    (5) Location of company or organization; and
    (6) Demographics.
    To be considered for membership, please provide the following: name 
and title of individual proposed for consideration; name and address of 
the company or organization of which the individual is a 
representative; company's or organization's product or service line; 
size of the company or, if an organization, the size and number of 
member companies; export experience/foreign investment experience in 
major markets; a brief statement (not more than 1 page) of why each 
candidate should be considered for membership on the Committee; the 
particular segment of the business community the candidate would 
represent; and a personal resume.

DEADLINE: In order to receive full consideration, requests must be 
received no later than May 15, 1996.

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, D.C. 20230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mrs. S.K. Miller, Director, Office of 
Africa, Room 2037, U.S. Department of Commerce, Washington, D.C. 20230; 
telephone: 202/482-4227.

    Authority: Act of February 14, 1903, c. 552, as amended, 15 
U.S.C. 1501 et seq., 32 Stat. 825; Reorganization Plan No. 3 of 
1979, 19 U.S.C. 2171 Note, 93 Stat. 1381.

Sally K. Miller,
Director, Office of Africa.
[FR Doc. 96-8461 Filed 4-4-96; 8:45 am]
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