Opportunity To Apply for Membership on the U.S.-Korea Committee on Business Cooperation

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

Opportunity To Apply for Membership on the U.S.-Korea Committee

on Business Cooperation

AGENCY: International Trade Administration, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce is currently seeking applications

for membership on the U.S. side of the U.S.-Korea Committee on Business

Cooperation (CBC). The initial term of the CBC expired on October 1,

1999, but was reauthorized on December 17, 1999, and will expire on

January 1, 2001. The purpose of the CBC is to make recommendations to

the governments of the United States and South Korea on ways to

facilitate stronger commercial ties between the U.S. and South Korea.

This is accomplished by undertaking work programs, reporting on the

results, and presenting written recommendations to the two governments.

The CBC is co-chaired by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce and the South

Korean Minister of Commerce, Industry and Energy. Its activities are

undertaken by an equal number of private sector representatives from

the United States and South Korea.

Membership Opportunity

The CBC will expire January 1, 2001, but may be renewed upon the

mutual agreement of the U.S. and Korea. Applications are now being

sought for U.S. private sector members to serve beginning immediately

and until January 1, 2001. Private sector members will serve at the

discretion of the Secretary of Commerce. They are expected to

participate fully in defining and implementing CBC work programs,

reporting on the results, and presenting written recommendations to the

two governments. It is expected that private sector individuals chosen

for the CBC will attend at least 75% of CBC meetings, which are held

alternately in the U.S. and South Korea. It is expected that the next

meeting will take place in Washington, DC.

It is further expected that the U.S. private sector members will

provide a secretariat to support the activities of the U.S. side of the

CBC. The tasks of the Secretariat shall include, but not be limited to,

the following:

A. Maintain the membership list;

B. Perform organizational matters in connection with the meetings

of the CBC and its working groups, if such are formed, including but

not limited to, logistics, agendas and reports;

C. Perform other administrative duties that might arise between

meetings; and

D. Prepare the written report to the Co-Chairs making

recommendations on ways to enhance bilateral commercial relations.

Private sector members are fully responsible for travel, living and

personal expenses associated with their participation in the CBC, and

may be responsible for a pro rata share of administrative and

communications costs relating to the CBC, including, as appropriate,

the costs of a secretariat to manage administrative and logistical

matters relating to the operation of the CBC. The private sector

members will serve in a representative capacity presenting the views

and interests of the particular business sector in which they operate,

not those of their individual firms. Private sector members are not

special government employees.

Objectives

The objectives of the CBC are as follows:

A. Identifying commercial opportunities, impediments, and issues of

concern to the business communities in the U.S. and Korea;

B. Improving the dissemination of appropriate commercial

information on both markets; and

C. Adopting sectoral approaches to addressing specific problems,

and making recommendations to decision-makers.

Membership Criteria

An applicant must be:

a U.S. citizen residing in the United States; and

not a registered foreign agent under the Foreign Agents

Registration Act of 1938 (FARA).

In reviewing eligible applicants, the Department of Commerce will

consider:

Experience in doing business in South Korea;

Readiness to initiate and be responsible for activities in

which the CBC will be active; and

Contribution to CBC diversity (i.e., company size, type,

location, demographics and/or traditional under-representation in

business).

The Department of Commerce will also give preference to primary

companies involved in manufacturing and services.

To be considered for membership, please provide the following: (1)

Name and title of the individual requesting consideration; (2) name and

address of the company or organization sponsoring each individual; (3)

company's product or service line; (4) size of the company; (5) export

experience and major markets; (6) a brief statement of why each

candidate should be considered for membership on the CBC; (7) the

particular segment of the business community each candidate would

represent; (8) a personal resume; and (9) a statement signed by the

applicant that he or she is a U.S. citizen residing in the United

States and not a registered foreign agent under FARA. Up to two

applicants from the same organization can be considered.

DEADLINE: In order to receive full consideration, requests must be

received no later than February 18, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Please send your requests for consideration to Philip R.

Agress, Director, Office of Korea and Southeast Asia, U.S. Department

of Commerce, Room 2036, 14th St. and Constitution Ave., NW, Washington,

DC 20230, fax (202) 482-4760.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Linda Droker, Director, Korea and

Taiwan Affairs, U.S. Department of Commerce, Room 2323, 14th St. and

Constitution Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20230, telephone (202) 482-3876,

fax (202) 482-3316.

Authority: 15 U.S.C. 1512.

Dated: January 3, 2000.

Philip R. Agress,

Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Asia and the Pacific.

[FR Doc. 00-456 Filed 1-7-00; 8:45 am]

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