[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 125 (Wednesday, June 29, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42312-42314]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-15373]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration


President's Advisory Council on Doing Business in Africa

AGENCY: International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of 
Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of an opportunity to apply for membership on the 
President's Advisory Council on Doing Business in Africa.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce is currently seeking applications 
for membership on the President's Advisory Council (Advisory Council) 
on Doing Business in Africa. The purpose of the Advisory Council is to 
advise the President through the Secretary of Commerce on strengthening 
commercial engagement between the United States and Africa, with a 
focus on advancing the President's Doing Business in Africa Campaign as 
described in the U.S. Strategy Toward Sub-Saharan Africa of June 14, 
2012.

DATES: All applications for immediate consideration for appointment 
must be received by the Office of Advisory Committees and Industry 
Outreach by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) on July 22, 2016. 
After that date, ITA will continue to accept applications under this 
notice for a period of up to two years from the deadline to fill any 
vacancies that may arise.

[[Page 42313]]


ADDRESSES: Please submit applications by email to [email protected], 
attention: Tricia Van Orden, Office of Advisory Committees and Industry 
Outreach, President's Advisory Council on Doing Business in Africa 
Executive Secretariat or by mail to Tricia Van Orden, Office of 
Advisory Committees and Industry Outreach, President's Advisory Council 
on Doing Business in Africa Executive Secretariat, 1401 Constitution 
Avenue NW., Suite 4043, Washington, DC 20230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: President's Advisory Council on Doing 
Business in Africa Executive Secretariat, U.S. Department of Commerce, 
Room 4043, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230, 
telephone: 202-482-4501, email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The President's Advisory Council on Doing 
Business in Africa (Advisory Council) was established pursuant to 
Executive Order No. 13675 dated August 5, 2014, and continued by 
Executive Order 13708 until September 30, 2017. The Advisory Council 
was established in accordance with the provisions of the Federal 
Advisory Committee Act (FACA), as amended, 5 U.S.C. App., to advise the 
President through the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) on 
strengthening commercial engagement between the United States and 
Africa, with a focus on advancing the President's Doing Business in 
Africa Campaign as described in the U.S. Strategy Toward Sub-Saharan 
Africa of June 14, 2012 (http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/docs/africa_strategy_2.pdf). The current charter for the Advisory 
Council expires August 5, 2016. The Department of Commerce is in the 
process of renewing the charter through September 30, 2017.
    The Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration, 
Office of Advisory Committees and Industry Outreach, is accepting 
applications for Advisory Council members. The Advisory Council shall 
provide information, analysis, and recommendations to the President 
that address the following, in addition to other topics deemed relevant 
by the President, the Secretary, or the Advisory Council:
    (i) Creating jobs in the United States and Africa through trade and 
investment;
    (ii) developing strategies by which the U.S. private sector can 
identify and take advantage of trade and investment opportunities in 
Africa;
    (iii) building lasting commercial partnerships between the U.S. and 
African private sectors;
    (iv) facilitating U.S. business participation in Africa's 
infrastructure development;
    (v) contributing to the growth and improvement of Africa's 
agricultural sector by encouraging partnerships between U.S. and 
African companies to bring innovative agricultural technologies to 
Africa;
    (vi) making available to the U.S. private sector an accurate 
understanding of the opportunities presented for increasing trade with 
and investment in Africa;
    (vii) developing and strengthening partnerships and other 
mechanisms to increase U.S. public and private sector financing of 
trade with and investment in Africa;
    (viii) analyzing the effect of policies in the United States and 
Africa on U.S. trade and investment interests in Africa;
    (ix) identifying other means to expand commercial ties between the 
United States and Africa; and
    (x) building the capacity of Africa's young entrepreneurs to 
develop trade and investment ties with U.S. partners.
    Executive Order 13675 provides that the Advisory Council shall 
consist of not more than 15 private sector corporate members, including 
small businesses and representatives from infrastructure, agriculture, 
consumer goods, banking, services, and other industries. In light of 
the broad objectives, scope, and duties of the Advisory Council; the 
scope of recommendations provided during the 2014-2016 charter term; 
and the anticipated breadth of issues on which the new appointees may 
be requested to advise, the appropriate size of the Advisory Council is 
being discussed as part of the current rechartering process, including 
the possibility of a significant expansion. Any decision to alter the 
size of the Advisory Council will be posted on the Advisory Council Web 
site at http://trade.gov/pac-dbia/. The Secretary of Commerce intends 
to make appointments under this notice up to the current or expanded 
number of Advisory Council members, consistent with the Executive Order 
and the Advisory Council charter.
    The Advisory Council shall be broadly representative of the key 
industries with business interests in the functions of the Advisory 
Council as set forth above. Each Advisory Council member shall serve as 
the representative of a U.S. company engaged in activities involving 
trade, investment, development or finance with African markets. The 
Department particularly seeks applicants who are active executives 
(Chief Executive Officer, Executive Chairman, President or comparable 
level of responsibility); however, for very large companies, a person 
having substantial responsibility for the company's commercial 
activities in Africa may be considered.
    For eligibility purposes, a ``U.S. company'' is a for-profit firm 
incorporated in the United States or with its principal place of 
business in the United States that is (a) majority controlled (more 
than 50 percent ownership interest and/or voting stock) by U.S. 
citizens or by another U.S. entity or (b) majority controlled (more 
than 50 percent ownership interest and/or voting stock) directly or 
indirectly by a foreign parent company. Members are not required to be 
a U.S. citizen; however, members may not be registered as a foreign 
agent under the Foreign Agents Registration Act. Additionally, no 
member shall represent a company that is majority owned or controlled 
by a foreign government entity or entities.
    Members of the Advisory Council will be selected, in accordance 
with applicable Department of Commerce guidelines, based on their 
ability to carry out the objectives of the Advisory Council as set 
forth above. Members shall be selected in a manner that ensures that 
the Advisory Council is balanced in terms of points of view, industry 
subsector, activities in and with African markets, range of products 
and services, demographics, geography, and company size. Additional 
factors which will be considered in the selection of Advisory Council 
members include candidates' proven leadership and experience in the 
trade, investment, financing, development, or other commercial 
activities between the United States and Africa. Priority may be given 
to active executives (Chief Executive Officer, Executive Chairman, 
President or comparable level of responsibility). Appointments to the 
Advisory Council shall be made without regard to political affiliation.
    The Secretary appoints the members of the Advisory Council in 
consultation with the Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee (TPCC), a 
Federal interagency group led by the Secretary of Commerce tasked with 
coordinating export promotion and export financing activities of the 
U.S. Government and development of a government-wide strategic plan to 
carry out such activities. Members shall serve a term of two years, at 
the pleasure of the Secretary.
    Members shall serve in a representative capacity, representing the 
views and interests of their particular industry sector. Advisory 
Council members are not special government

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employees, and will receive no compensation for their participation in 
Advisory Council activities. Members participating in Advisory Council 
meetings and events will be responsible for their travel, living and 
other personal expenses. Meetings will be held regularly and, to the 
extent practical, not less than twice annually, in Washington, DC, or 
other locations as feasible. Teleconference meetings may also be held 
as needed.
    To be considered for membership, submit the following information 
by 5:00 p.m. EDT on July 22, 2016 to the email or mailing address 
listed in the ADDRESSES section:
    1. Name and title of the individual requesting consideration.
    2. A sponsor letter from the applicant on his or her company 
letterhead containing a brief statement of why the applicant should be 
considered for membership on the Advisory Council. This sponsor letter 
should also address the applicant's experience and leadership related 
to trade, investment, financing, development, or other commercial 
activities between the United States and Africa.
    3. The applicant's personal resume and short bio (less than 300 
words).
    4. An affirmative statement that the applicant meets all 
eligibility criteria, including an affirmative statement that the 
applicant is not required to register as a foreign agent under the 
Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938, as amended.
    5. Information regarding the ownership and control of the company, 
including the stock holdings as appropriate, signifying compliance with 
the criteria set forth above.
    6. The company's size, product or service line, and major markets 
in which the company operates.
    7. A profile of the company's trade, investment, development, 
finance, partnership, or other commercial activities in or with African 
markets.
    8. Brief statement describing how the applicant will contribute to 
the work of the Advisory Council based on his or her unique experience 
and perspective (not to exceed 100 words).

    Dated:_June 24, 2016.
Tricia Van Orden,
Executive Secretary, President's Advisory Council on Doing Business in 
Africa.
[FR Doc. 2016-15373 Filed 6-28-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-DR-P