[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 203 (Monday, October 20, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62255-62256]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-24880]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration


Notice of Request for Public Comment

AGENCY: International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of request for public comment.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce's International Trade 
Administration (ITA) is seeking U.S. academic institutions, training 
centers, and other interested parties who would like to organize joint 
activities with their counterparts in Vietnam in the field of 
Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). In 2007, the ITA 
launched the U.S.-Vietnam ICT Commercial Dialogue with the Ministry of 
Information and Communications (MIC) in Vietnam to discuss various ICT 
issues that have an impact on trade between our two countries. The U.S. 
and Vietnamese companies that participated in the meeting recommended 
the establishment of a ``public/private partnership for the development 
of human resources through technical training programs.'' Therefore MIC 
has proposed that an Academic Advisory Group be created in addition to 
a Business Advisory Group under the Dialogue.
    The objective of the Academic Advisory Group would be to facilitate 
an exchange of ideas on the best curriculum to meet the needs of ICT 
growth, and to increase opportunities for Vietnamese citizens to study 
in the ICT field in Vietnam through distance learning mechanisms, or at 
United States institutions.
    The initial meeting of the Academic Advisory Group, to be held via 
videoconference, is tentatively scheduled for November 12, 2008. A 
representative of the group would make a brief report at the ICT 
Dialogue Working Group meeting on November 13 in Washington, DC. A 
follow-up meeting is anticipated in January 2009 in Hanoi.

DATES: November 12-13, 2008.

[[Page 62256]]


ADDRESSES: Inquiries about participation in the videoconference should 
be addressed to the contact below, and received by close of business on 
Monday, November 10, 2008.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cora Dickson, U.S. Department of 
Commerce, Office of Technology and Electronic Commerce, 1401 
Constitution Avenue, NW., Room 4327, Washington, DC 20230; Telephone: 
202-482-6083; Fax: 202-482-5834; E-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Michael Michalak 
has made education a top priority. The U.S. Embassy in Hanoi hosted an 
education conference in January as a first step, and expects to hold 
another one in January 2009. Vietnam currently faces an estimated 
deficit of $100 million per year in funding its educational plans, and 
is trying to close the gap by seeking international support in paying 
for and helping implement reforms. In the field of ICT, Vietnam is 
facing a shortage of qualified workers to meet the increasing need for 
IT skills as it modernizes its infrastructure. U.S. companies also hope 
to create opportunities for trade and investment as ICT grows stronger 
in Vietnam.

    Dated: October 14, 2008.
Robin Layton,
Director, Office of Technology and Electronic Commerce.
 [FR Doc. E8-24880 Filed 10-17-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-P