U.S.-South Africa Business Development Committee: Membership

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

U.S.-South Africa Business Development Committee: Membership

ACTION: Notice of Membership Opportunity.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce is currently seeking nominations of

outstanding individuals to serve on the U.S. section of the U.S.-South

Africa Business Development Committee (BDC). On June 4, 1994, Secretary

of Commerce Ronald H. Brown and South African Minister of Trade and

Industry Trevor Manuel signed the document establishing the BDC, the

purpose of which is to provide a forum for the public and private

sectors to engage in constructive exchanges of information on

commercial matters, problem solve, and more effectively work together

on issues of common interest. The BDC is composed of two sections, a

U.S. section and a South African section. The U.S. Section is chaired

by Secretary of Commerce Ronald H. Brown and is comprised of 21 private

sector representatives. The inaugural meeting of the BDC took place

September 19-20, 1994. Subsequent plenary and working group meetings

have been held over the past two years with the government and private

sector members from both countries in attendance.

OBLIGATIONS: Private sector members were originally appointed for a two

year term. Nominations are now being sought for private sector members

to serve for a two year period from July 1, 1996 until June 30, 1998.

Private sector members will serve at the discretion of the Secretary

and shall serve as representatives of the business community and the

industry their business represents. They are expected to participate

fully in defining the agenda for the Committee and in implementing its

work program. It is expected that private sector individuals chosen for

BDC membership will attend not less than 75% of the BDC meetings which

will be held in the United States and South Africa.

Private sector members are fully responsible for travel, living and

personal expenses associated with their participation on the BDC and

may be responsible for a pro rata share of administrative and

communications costs of the BDC.

The BDC will continue to work on issues of common interest to

encourage trade and investment, including the following:

--Resolving obstacles to trade and investment between the two

countries;

--Expanding commercial activity between both countries and identifying

commercial opportunities;

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

opportunities;

--Implementing trade and business development programs, including trade

missions, seminars, exhibits and other events;

--Identifying further steps to facilitate and encourage the development

of commercial expansion between the two countries; and

--Taking any other appropriate steps for fostering commercial relations

between the U.S. and South Africa.

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

potential candidates must be:

(1) U.S. citizens or permanent residents;

(2) CEOs or other senior management level employees of a U.S.

company or organization with demonstrated involvement in trade with

and/or investment in South Africa who will participate in not less than

75% of the BDC meetings, which will be held in the United States and

South Africa. (The representative nominated should be the individual

that will actively participate in the BDC);

(3) Not a registered Foreign Agent; and

(4) Actively doing business in South Africa or actively developing

entry plans for doing business in South Africa.

To the extent possible, the Department of Commerce will strive to

achieve membership composition that reflects U.S. entrepreneurial

diversity. Therefore, in reviewing eligible candidates, the Department

of Commerce will consider such selection factors as:

(1) Depth of experience in the South African market;

(2) Export/investment experience;

(3) Representation of industry or service sectors of importance to

our commercial relationship with South Africa;

(4) Company size or, if an organization, size and number of member

companies;

(5) Location of company or organization; and

(6) Demographics.

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 of which the individual is a

representative; company's or organization's product or service line;

size of the company or, if an organization, the size and number of

member companies; export experience/foreign investment experience in

major markets; a brief statement (not more than 1 page) of why each

candidate should be considered for membership on the Committee; the

particular segment of the business community the candidate would

represent; and a personal resume.

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

received no later than May 15, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Please send your requests for consideration to Mrs. S.K.

Miller, Director, Office of Africa by fax on 202/482-5198 or by mail at

Room 2037, U.S. Department of Commerce, Washington, D.C. 20230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mrs. S.K. Miller, Director, Office of

Africa, Room 2037, U.S. Department of Commerce, Washington, D.C. 20230;

telephone: 202/482-4227.

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.

Sally K. Miller,

Director, Office of Africa.

[FR Doc. 96-8461 Filed 4-4-96; 8:45 am]

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