[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 225 (Wednesday, November 21, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58758-58760]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-25417]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration


Request for Comments and Notice of Roundtable on Energy, 
Information and Communication Technology, and Infrastructure in the 
Indo-Pacific Region

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

ACTION: Request for public comments and notice of a roundtable 
discussion on energy, information and communication technology (ICT), 
and infrastructure in the Indo-Pacific region.

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SUMMARY: As part of the commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific, the 
Global Markets unit of the International Trade Administration of the 
Department of Commerce (GM) seeks individual comments from industry on 
government programs to inform the catalyzation of U.S. private sector 
participation in commercial opportunities in the Indo-Pacific region in 
energy, ICT and infrastructure. Through this notice, GM announces a 
request for written public comments and announces a roundtable to 
facilitate a discussion with industry representatives and U.S. 
government staff. This notice serves as an initial step in improving 
GM's understanding of private sector interests and programmatic and 
policy needs in energy, ICT, and infrastructure sectors in the Indo-
Pacific region. This notice further sets forth topics for discussion 
and comment.

DATES: 
    Event: The roundtable will be held on December 12, 2018, from 9:00 
a.m. to 12:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time.
    Written Comments: To be ensured of consideration, written public 
comments must be received on or before January 4, 2019. Comments should 
not include any business confidential information.

[[Page 58759]]

    Event Registration: GM will evaluate registrations based on the 
submitted information (see below) and inform applicants of selection 
decisions, which will be made on a rolling basis until 15 participants 
have been selected for each breakout session.

ADDRESSES: 
    Event: The roundtable will be held at the Department of Commerce, 
Room 1414, 1401 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20230.
    Comments: Written comments should be sent by electronic mail 
addressed to [email protected]. Comments may also be 
submitted by mail addressed to: Deputy Assistant Secretary for Asia, 
International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 
Constitution Ave. NW, Room 2846, Washington, DC. Although comments may 
be submitted by mail, the GM prefers to receive comments via the 
internet.
    For alternatives to online or mail submissions, please contact 
Stephanie Smedile, Indo-Pacific Commercial Coordinator, GM, at (202) 
482-0333.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: [email protected] or 
Stephanie Smedile, Indo-Pacific Commercial Coordinator, GM, at (202) 
482-0333

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On July 30, 2018 the Trump Administration 
announced new economic initiatives in the Indo-Pacific region to 
advance a free and open Indo-Pacific region (See, https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/president-donald-j-trumps-administration-advancing-free-open-indo-pacific/). This request for 
comment and event notification seeks public comment on priorities and 
strategies to enhance commercial engagement in each of the three 
initiatives announced. The initiatives and topics for public comment 
are as follows:
    (1) Digital Connectivity and Cybersecurity Partnership (DCCP)--a 
new global initiative to promote access to an open, interoperable, 
reliable, and secure internet, with an initial focus on the Indo-
Pacific region. Through this program, the United States will support 
communications infrastructure development through public-private 
partnerships, promote regulatory and policy reforms, promote exports of 
U.S. information and communications technology (ICT) goods and 
services, and build the cybersecurity capacity of our partners to 
address shared threats.
    (2) Infrastructure Transaction and Assistance Network (ITAN)--The 
ITAN will prioritize support for strategically important infrastructure 
and catalyze opportunities for U.S. business; establish a new Indo-
Pacific Transaction Advisory Fund to provide independent legal support 
for negotiations; and coordinate capacity-building programs to improve 
partner countries' project evaluation processes, regulatory and 
procurement environments, and project preparation and financing 
capabilities.
    (3) Enhancing Development and Growth through Energy, or Asia EDGE, 
is a U.S. whole of government effort to grow sustainable and secure 
energy markets throughout the Indo-Pacific. Asia EDGE seeks to 
strengthen energy security, increase energy diversification and trade, 
and expand energy access across the Indo-Pacific.
    The Department seeks input at the December 12th roundtable on the 
following topics:
     What are the principal U.S. and/or foreign policy and 
regulatory barriers to growing sales and exports to the Indo-Pacific 
region? How would you prioritize these barriers for USG engagement?
     What are the principal barriers (U.S. and/or foreign) to 
investment in infrastructure (ICT networks, energy, transportation, 
other) in countries in the Indo-Pacific?
     Have you worked with USG agencies--such as State, 
Commerce, USTDA, EXIM, OPIC, USAID--in doing business in the Indo-
Pacific? What is your assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of the 
U.S. government tools to promote U.S. businesses in this sector?
     What proactive solutions or actions could the U.S. 
government pursue that would have an impact on catalyzing U.S. private 
sector participation in commercial opportunities in the Indo-Pacific 
region?
    Event: The December 12 roundtable hosted by the Deputy Assistant 
Secretary for Asia will provide an overview of the President's vision 
for the Indo-Pacific region and will include three break-out sessions--
one for each initiative--during which participants will provide 
insights and feedback related to the energy, ICT, and infrastructure 
sectors in the Indo-Pacific region. Due to limited space, the event is 
closed to press and observers. Industry participation is limited to 15 
qualifying industry representatives per break-out session (energy, ICT, 
and infrastructure).

Selection

    To attend, participants should submit the below information to 
[email protected] by December 5, 2018. GM will evaluate 
registrations based on the submitted information on a rolling basis 
until 15 participants have been selected for each break-out session and 
inform applicants of selection decisions.
    Applicants are encouraged to send representatives at a sufficiently 
senior level to be knowledgeable about their organization's 
capabilities, interests and challenges in the Indo-Pacific region. 
Please see the following hyperlink for a definition of the Indo-Pacific 
region: http://www.pacom.mil/About-USINDOPACOM/USPACOM-Area-of-Responsibility/.
    Registrations should include the following information in their 
registration email:
     Name of attendee and short bio.
     Organization and brief organization description.
     The initiative discussion in which the registrant prefers 
to participate (DCCP, ITAN, or Asia EDGE). Registrants cannot register 
for all three as the break-outs happen concurrently. Registrants may 
indicate a second choice if the preferred choice is filled.
     A statement self-certifying how the organization meets 
each of the following criteria:
    1. Is not majority owned or controlled by a foreign government 
entity (or foreign government entities).
    2. Its existing products or services are either produced in the 
United States, or, if not, marketed under the name of a U.S. firm and 
have demonstrable U.S. content as a percentage of the value of the 
finished product or service AND/OR it is a major investor in projects 
in the Indo-Pacific in which companies with such products may compete.
    3. It has already exported from the United States to or invested in 
the Indo-Pacific region.
    4. In the case of a trade association, academic or research 
institution, the applicant will only be representing companies during 
the Roundtable that satisfy each of the criteria above.
    Selection will be based on the following criteria:
     Suitability of the company's (or in the case of another 
organization, represented companies' or constituents') existing 
products or services to energy, ICT, and infrastructure commercial 
opportunities in the Indo-Pacific.
     Suitability of the company's (or in the case of another 
organization, represented companies' or constituents') experience 
pursuing commercial opportunities in the Indo-Pacific.

[[Page 58760]]

     Suitability of the representative's position and biography 
to be able to engage in the conversation.

Anthony Diaz,
Program Analyst, SelectUSA, International Trade Administration, U.S. 
Department of Commerce.
[FR Doc. 2018-25417 Filed 11-20-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-FP-P