[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 90 (Wednesday, May 12, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26006-26007]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-09979]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration


President's Advisory Council on Doing Business in Africa

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

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 2021-2023 term of 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. This term, the Secretary is particularly interested 
in advice on advancing President Biden's strategy for Africa.

DATES: All applications for immediate consideration for appointment 
must be received by the Office of Africa by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight 
Time (EDT) on June 25, 2021. After that date, the International Trade 
Administration (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.

ADDRESSES: Please submit applications by email to [email protected], 
attention: Ashley Bubna and Giancarlo Cavallo, Designated Federal 
Officers, President's Advisory Council on Doing Business in Africa, 
Office of Africa.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ashley Bubna and Giancarlo Cavallo, 
Designated Federal Officers, President's Advisory Council on Doing 
Business in Africa, telephone: 202-250-9798 (Ms. Bubna) and 202-766-
8044 (Mr. Cavallo), email: [email protected], [email protected], and 
[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 13889 until September 30, 2021. 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.
    The Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration, 
Office of Africa, 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, as amended, provides that the Advisory 
Council shall consist of not more than 26 private sector corporate 
members, including small businesses and representatives from 
infrastructure, agriculture, consumer goods, banking, services, and 
other industries. The Secretary of Commerce intends to make 
appointments under this notice up to the current 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

[[Page 26007]]

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 and 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 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 June 25, 2021 to the email 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).

Frederique Stewart,
Director, Office of Africa.
[FR Doc. 2021-09979 Filed 5-11-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-P