U.S.-Turkey Business Development Council: Membership

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

U.S.-Turkey Business Development Council: Membership

ACTION: Notice of membership opportunity.

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SUMMARY: As part of its Big Emerging Market Strategy for Turkey, the

Department of Commerce is establishing a Business Development Council

(BDC) in cooperation with the Turkish Government. The Department of

Commerce is currently seeking nominations of outstanding individuals to

serve on the U.S. section of the BDC as representatives of their

particular industry sector. The purpose of the BDC will be to provide a

forum through which U.S. and Turkish private sector representatives can

engage in constructive exchanges of information on commercial matters,

and in which governments can exchange information, solve problems, and

more effectively work together on issues of mutual concern relating to

the following:

--Identifying commercial opportunities, impediments, and issues of

concern to the U.S. and Turkish business communities;

--Addressing obstacles to trade and investment;

--Improving the dissemination of information on U.S.-Turkey market

opportunities;

--Developing sectoral or project-oriented approaches to expand business

opportunities;

--Implementing trade/business development and promotion programs,

including trade missions, exhibits, seminars, and other events; and

--Identifying further steps to facilitate and encourage the development

of commercial expansion and cooperation between the two countries.

The inaugural meeting of the BDC is expected to take place during

early 1997 in either Washington, DC or Ankara, Turkey with government

and private sector members from both countries in attendance.

Obligations

Private sector members will be appointed for a two (2) year term

and will serve at the discretion of the Secretary of Commerce. Private

sector members shall serve as representatives of the business community

and the industry their business represents. Private sector members are

expected to participate fully in defining the agenda for the Council

and in implementing its work program. It is expected that private

sector members chosen for BDC membership will attend at least seventy-

five percent (75%) of the BDC meetings which will be held in the United

States and Turkey.

Private sector members are fully responsible for travel, living and

personal expenses associated with their participation in the BDC. The

private sector members will serve in a representative capacity

presenting the views and interests of the particular business sector in

which they operate; private sector members are not special government

employees.

It is anticipated that the private sector members of the BDC will

form a steering committee to guide overall private sector

participation. It is further anticipated that the steering committee

will arrange for staff support for the BDC activities at the expense of

the steering committee members.

Criteria

The Council will be composed of two sections, a U.S. section and a

Turkish section. The U.S. Section will be chaired by the Under

Secretary for International Trade of the Department of Commerce, or

designee, and will include approximately 20 members from the U.S.

private sector.

In order to be eligible for membership in the U.S. section,

potential candidates must be:

--A U.S. citizen or permanent U.S. resident;

--A CEO or other senior management level employee of a U.S. company or

organization involved in trade with and/or investment in Turkey; and

--Not a registered foreign agent under the Foreign Agent Registration

Act of 1938, as amended (FARA).

In reviewing eligible candidates, the Department of Commerce will

consider such selection factors as:

--Depth of experience in the Turkish market;

--Export/investment experience;

--Industry or service sector represented;

--Contribution to diversity based on company size, location,

demographics, and traditional under-representation in business; and

--Stated commitment to actively participate in BDC activities and

meetings.

To be considered for membership, please provide the following: name

and title of individual proposed for consideration; name and address of

the company or organization sponsoring each individual; company's or

organization's product or service line; size of the company or

organization; export experience/foreign investment experience; a brief

statement (not more than 2 pages) of why each candidate should be

considered for membership on the Council; the particular segment of the

business community each candidate would represent; a personal resume;

and a statement that the applicant is not a registered Foreign Agent

under FARA.

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

received no later than December 27, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Please send your requests for consideration to Mr. Boyce

Fitzpatrick, Turkey Desk Officer, Office of European Union and Regional

Affairs, by fax on 202/482-2897 or by mail at Room 3045, U.S.

Department of Commerce, Washington, DC 20230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Boyce Fitzpatrick, Turkey Desk

Officer, Office of European Union and Regional Affairs, Room 3045, U.S.

Department of Commerce, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: 202/482-2177.

Authority: Act of February 14, 1903, c. 552, as amended, 15

U.S.C. 1501 et seq, 32 Stat. 825; Reorganization Plan No. 3 of 1979,

19 U.S.C. 2171 Note, 93 Stat. 1381.

Dated: November 20, 1996.

William W. Ginsberg,

Acting Assistant Secretary for Market Access and Compliance.

[FR Doc. 96-30294 Filed 11-26-96; 8:45 am]

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