Business Information Service for the Newly Independent States (BISNIS) Finance Link

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

Business Information Service for the Newly Independent States

(BISNIS) Finance Link

ACTION: Proposed collection; comment request.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort

to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public

and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the

continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork

Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506 (c)(2)(A)).

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before November 3,

1997.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Linda Engelmeier,

Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room

5327, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230. Phone

number (202) 482-3272.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or

copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should

be directed to: Trevor Gunn, BISNIS, Room 7413, Department of Commerce,

14th & Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230; phone (202) 482-

4655, fax (202) 482-2293.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

The International Trade Administration's Business Information

Service for the Newly Independent States (BISNIS) offers business

information and counseling to U.S. companies seeking to export or

invest in the countries of the former Soviet Union. One of the

essential components of BISNIS' services is assisting companies in

locating suitable financing for exports. Often, official sources, such

as the Export-Import Bank of the United States, cannot handle all

requests for a variety of reasons. The proposed BISNIS Finance Link

collection of information is an internet-based service to facilitate

contact between exporters and financing agencies. Exporters fill out a

form giving relevant details about their company and desired

transaction. The form is then submitted via Internet's World Wide Web

to BISNIS. If complete, BISNIS will, in turn, distribute the

information collected to potential financing agencies. The intention is

to provide a service that benefits both exporters and financing

agencies.

II. Method of Collection

The request is sent via internet to Department of Commerce, BISNIS

Information Service for the Newly Independent States, Trade Finance

Specialist.

III. Data

OMB Number: N/A.

Form Number: N/A.

Type of Review: Regular submission.

Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 200.

Estimated Time per Response: 10 minutes.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 33 hours.

Estimated Total Annual Cost: $1155--no capital costs are required.

IV. Request for Comments

Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of

information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of

the agency, including whether the information shall have practical

utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden

(including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information;

(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the

information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the

collection of information on respondents, including through the use of

automated collection techniques or other forms of information

technology.

Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized

and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information

collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

Dated: August 26, 1997.

Linda Engelmeier,

Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Management and

Organization.

[FR Doc. 97-23410 Filed 9-3-97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510-DA-P