[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 82 (Wednesday, April 29, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23420-23421]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-11316]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration


U.S.-South African Business Development Committee; Membership

AGENCY: International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.

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.-S.A. 
Business Development Committee (BDC). The U.S. Department of Commerce 
and the South African Department of Trade and Industry created the BDC 
in June 1994 to provide a forum through which U.S. and South African 
private sector representatives could advise their governments on 
commercial issues relevant to bilateral trade issues.
    The U.S. section is chaired by Secretary of Commerce William Daley 
and consists of 21 members representing the diversity of American 
business, with emphasis on: finance and investment; infrastructure; 
technical assistance; and market access. The BDC has held regular 
meetings since September 1994.

[[Page 23421]]

Term

    Members selected through this recruitment process will serve a term 
from July 1998 to June 2000.

Obligations

    Private sector members will serve at the discretion of the 
Secretary and shall serve as representatives of the business community 
and industry that they represent. 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 in 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. Such issues include:

--Resolving obstacles to trade and investment between the two 
countries;
--Developing sectoral or project-oriented approaches to expand business 
opportunities;
--Expanding commercial activity between both countries and identifying 
commercial opportunities;
--Implementing trade and business development programs, including trade 
missions, seminars, exhibits, and other events; and
--Identifying further steps to facilitate and encourage 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. (Candidate must actively participate 
in not less than 75% of the BDC meetings, which will be held in the 
United States and South Africa);
    (3) Not a registered Foreign Agent, under the Foreign Agents 
Registration Act; and
    (4) A representative of a company that is 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. When 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 
the United States' commercial relationship with South Africa;
    (4) Contribution to diversity, based on industry sector, company 
size, location, and demographics;
    Candidates for the two year term beginning in July 1998 must 
provide the following:
    (1) Name and title of the individual proposed for consideration;
    (2) Name and address of the company or organization of which the 
individual is a representative;
    (3) Company's or organization's product or service line;
    (4) The particular segment of the business community the candidate 
would represent;
    (5) Size of the company or, if an organization, size and number of 
member companies;
    (6) Brief summary of the company's or organization's depth and 
scope of current or planned involvement in the South African market;
    (7) Export/foreign investment experience in other major markets;
    (8) Optional brief statement (not more than 1 page) of any 
additional reasons why each candidate should be considered for 
membership on the Committee; and
    (9) A personal resume.

Deadline: In order to receive full consideration, requests must be 
received no later than May 30, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Please send your requests for consideration to Mrs. S. K. 
Miller, Director, Office of Africa, either by fax on 202-482-5198, or 
by mail to Room 2037, U.S. Department of Commerce, Washington, D.C. 
20230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mrs. S. K. Miller of the 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. 1512, 32 Stat. 825.
Sally Miller,
Director, Office of Africa.
[FR Doc. 98-11316 Filed 4-28-98; 8:45 am]
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