[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 97 (Thursday, May 18, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31517-31519]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-12466]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration


Notice of Recruitment

AGENCY: International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of Recruitment.

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SUMMARY: U.S. Department of Commerce Invites Small and Medium 
Enterprises to Join U.S. Delegation to Asia Pacific Economic 
Cooperation (APEC) Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Ministerial 
Meeting and Related Events.

DATES: Conference: June 19-23, 2000.
    Apply for participation in the U.S. Delegation by: no later than 
June 2, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Conference location at International Convention Center in 
Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mrs. Brenda J. Fisher, APEC Affairs 
Coordinator, Room 2316, International Trade Administration, U.S. 
Department of Commerce at phone 202/482-5334; fax 202/482-3316; or 
email: Brenda(underscore)[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

[[Page 31518]]

Mission Description

    Brunei, Chair of APEC 2000, will host the Small and Medium 
Enterprise (SME) Ministerial and related events, including a Business 
Forum and E-Commerce Workshop, from June 20-23, in Bandar Seri Begawan.
    The Department of Commerce is the lead U.S. Government agency on 
SME issues in APEC. It is important that the DOC maintain the profile 
of SME issues within the APEC forum and make substantial, tangible 
progress on USG objectives, including E-Commerce. A senior Commerce 
Department official will lead the U.S. delegation, including 
interagency and private sector participation.
    The Ministerial will focus on building the foundations on which 
SMEs can flourish in the digital economy by holding workshops and 
discussions that will produce recommendations on how to best exploit
     Information and communication technology
     Human resources and development
     Strategic alliances between SMEs and SMEs and larger firms
     Financing SMEs.

Participants

     Ministers from APEC Economies representing small business.
     Private Sector Delegations from all 21 APEC member 
economies.

Commercial Setting

    The APEC SME Ministerial and related events are being held in 
Brunei as it is the Chair of APEC during 2000. The confluence of senior 
government officials and private sector delegations from the 21 APEC 
member economies is expected to generate frank and constructive 
discussions on issues of concern to all APEC member economies and 
business communities.
    Private sector businesses will have a unique chance to shape APEC's 
action agenda for SMEs during the June 20-23 SME Ministerial Meeting, 
SME Business Forum and associated events. Continuing the tradition of 
past Business Forums, all 21 APEC SME Ministers have agreed to interact 
with delegates from the SME Business Forum, E-Commerce Workshop, and 
Women Leaders' Network meeting--to be held concurrently at the 
International Convention Center in Bandar Seri Begawan.
    The Business Forum will provide a platform for frank and 
constructive discussions on issues of concern to all APEC economies and 
business communities. The E-Commerce Workshop participants are to 
develop a set of recommendations that will constitute a collective 
action plan for APEC members on improving the adoption of e-commerce by 
SMEs. The Women Leaders' Network meeting will bring together women from 
business, academia, and government from the APEC economies in a single 
forum to discuss the pressing issues surrounding womens' involvement in 
SME businesses.
    The formal agendas for the meetings provide opportunities for 
interaction between senior Government officials and business leaders 
from the participating 21 APEC member economies (Australia, Brunei, 
Canada, Chile, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, 
New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Peoples' Republic 
of China, Russia, Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan, United States, and 
Vietnam). Of course, networking can also be conducted on the margins of 
the official programs as well. The intent of these interactions is to 
develop tangible, practical and prioritized recommendations for APEC 
Ministers to act upon during the Ministerial Meeting on June 22-23.
    The SME Business Forum recommendations and action plans from two 
associated APEC SME events, the E-Commerce Workshop (involving 200 
government officials and private sector) and Women Leaders' Network (a 
meeting of 350 businesswomen), will be combined to provide a framework 
for practical action regarding programs and policies for SMEs. 
Participants will have an opportunity to shape the APEC dialogue on 
subjects vital to the growth and development of SMEs, including 
strategic alliances (between SMEs and between SMEs and larger firms); 
creating the best environment for e-commerce, and other information and 
communications technologies; financing; and developing human resources.

Mission Goals

    Our policy objectives are to advance U.S. interests for SMEs in 
APEC and work to implement the USG theme of building the foundations on 
which economies, particularly SMEs, can flourish in the digital 
economy. We will continue to press within APEC to produce tangible 
outcomes for the private sector and enhance public-private dialogue. 
Specifically, we seek Ministerial endorsement of the U.S. SME Business 
Partnership Initiative, developed in cooperation with the U.S. Chamber 
of Commerce. The partnership works on a bilateral basis with other APEC 
economies to develop internet-based matchmaking systems of qualified 
SME companies. The Initiative demonstrates first-hand the value-added 
of strategic partnerships, particularly when the appropriate due 
diligence is conducted. This program offers an excellent example of 
outcomes-oriented APEC work. We also will maintain momentum on the APEC 
Consumer Education and Protection Initiative (CEPI), developed with the 
Direct Selling Association.
    The U.S. delegation head will deliver general remarks during the 
Ministerial meetings on one theme, strategic alliances. It is hoped 
that our private sector delegation will represent firms who are engaged 
in strategic alliances in Asia, and/or can support the formation of 
strategic partnerships via the use of the Internet and electronic 
commerce. There will be several opportunities for informal interaction 
with both other Ministers and the private sector delegation members.

Mission Scenario

    Optional Gold Key Program in Malaysia--June 19.
    Women Leaders' Network Meeting in Brunei--June 17-20.
    Business Forum and E-Commerce Workshop--June 20-22.
    (Note: Agendas call for plenary sessions, interaction with 
Ministers, and working group breakout sessions to deliberate on 
Ministerial themes.)
    SME Ministerial--June 22-23.
    The Ministerial and related events will be held at the 
International Convention Center in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei 
Darussalam from June 20 to 23, 2000. Each private sector participant is 
responsible for arranging travel itinerary, hotel accommodations and 
paying for his/her stay in Brunei. The registration fees for the 
Ministerial-related events vary: Women Leaders' Network Meeting 
registration fee is $200.00/delegate; Business Forum registration fee 
is $150.00/delegate; E-Commerce Workshop registration fee for the first 
5 U.S. firms accepted on U.S. delegation is waived. The registration 
fee for subsequent participants for the E-Commerce Workshop is $100.00/
delegate.
    In addition, U.S. private sector members of the delegation are 
being offered an optional group Gold Key program in Kuala Lumpur, 
Malaysia on June 19. The Commercial Service in Malaysia is responsible 
for organizing the optional one-day program, which will include an 
Embassy briefing, meeting appointments, and reception. Cost to 
participate in the Gold Key is $500/company.
    There will be opportunities for informal interaction with both 
other

[[Page 31519]]

Ministers and private sector delegation members. The head of the U.S. 
delegation will also interact with U.S. private sector participants via 
hospitality events and other meetings.

Criteria for Participant Selection

Eligibility

    Participating companies must be incorporated in the United States.
    A company is eligible to participate only if the products and/or 
services that it will promote on the U.S. delegation are either (a) 
manufactured in the United States; or (b) if manufactured or produced 
outside the United States, are marketed under the name of a U.S. firm 
and have at least 51 percent U.S. content of the value of the finished 
product/service.

Selection Criteria

    Five to ten representatives of U.S. companies will be selected on 
the basis of:
     Company representatives' ability to participate in 
discussions of relevant marketing and investment issues they face in 
international trade, and/or demonstration of knowledge of working with 
information or other high-technology means, including e-commerce, to 
support strategic alliances between small and medium-sized firms 
(defined as not more than 500 employees) and/or between SMEs and larger 
firms. This would reflect consistency of company's market development 
goals with the scope and desired outcomes of the mission as described.
     Whether the company's overall business objectives, 
including those of any U.S. or overseas affiliates, are fully 
consistent with the mission's foreign and commercial policy objectives.
     Timely receipt of signed mission application and 
registration materials. For those interested in the optional Gold Key 
program in Malaysia, timely receipt of participation agreement, 
marketing form, company brochures, and $500.00 fee for each 
participating firm.
    Mission recruitment will be conducted in an open and public manner, 
including publication in the Federal Register, posting on the Internet, 
direct mail and broadcast fax, e-mail, notices by industry trade 
associations and other multiplier groups, and press releases.
    Any partisan political activities (including political 
contributions) of an applicant are entirely irrelevant to the selection 
process.

Time Frame for Applications

    Application deadline: The Bruneian Government has requested that 
all participants be identified by no later than June 10, 2000. ITA 
staff expect recruitment outreach to conclude on/about June 2, 2000, in 
order to allow for time for review and approval of applications from 
the private sector.
    Expressions of interest to obtain application and registration 
materials should be submitted immediately to: Brenda J. Fisher, APEC 
Affairs Coordinator, Room 2316, International Trade Administration, 
U.S. Department of Commerce, Washington, DC 20230. Phone 202 482 5334, 
Fax 202 482 3316; E-mail: Brenda__[email protected]
    For overall meeting agendas, list of speakers, registration fees, 
and other administrative/logistical details, please visit the following 
websites, which are being regularly updated.
    For SME Ministerial: http://apecsme2000.rba.com.bn
    For E-Commerce Workshop: http://www.apec2000.gov.bn/ecomm
    For SME Business Forum: http://www.bsmenet.org.bn/bizforum/index.htm
    For Women Leaders' Meeting: http://www.apec2000.gov.bn/wln

    Dated: May 12, 2000.
Philip R. Agress,
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Asia and the Pacific, ITA/USDOC.
[FR Doc. 00-12466 Filed 5-17-00; 8:45 am]
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