U.S.-South African Business Development Committee; Membership

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

U.S.-South African Business Development Committee; Membership

AGENCY: International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.

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.-S.A.

Business Development Committee (BDC). The U.S. Department of Commerce

and the South African Department of Trade and Industry created the BDC

in June 1994 to provide a forum through which U.S. and South African

private sector representatives could advise their governments on

commercial issues relevant to bilateral trade issues.

The U.S. section is chaired by Secretary of Commerce William Daley

and consists of 21 members representing the diversity of American

business, with emphasis on: finance and investment; infrastructure;

technical assistance; and market access. The BDC has held regular

meetings since September 1994.

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Term

Members selected through this recruitment process will serve a term

from July 1998 to June 2000.

Obligations

Private sector members will serve at the discretion of the

Secretary and shall serve as representatives of the business community

and industry that they represent. 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 in 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. Such issues include:

--Resolving obstacles to trade and investment between the two

countries;

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

opportunities;

--Expanding commercial activity between both countries and identifying

commercial opportunities;

--Implementing trade and business development programs, including trade

missions, seminars, exhibits, and other events; and

--Identifying further steps to facilitate and encourage 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. (Candidate must actively participate

in not less than 75% of the BDC meetings, which will be held in the

United States and South Africa);

(3) Not a registered Foreign Agent, under the Foreign Agents

Registration Act; and

(4) A representative of a company that is 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. When 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

the United States' commercial relationship with South Africa;

(4) Contribution to diversity, based on industry sector, company

size, location, and demographics;

Candidates for the two year term beginning in July 1998 must

provide the following:

(1) Name and title of the individual proposed for consideration;

(2) Name and address of the company or organization of which the

individual is a representative;

(3) Company's or organization's product or service line;

(4) The particular segment of the business community the candidate

would represent;

(5) Size of the company or, if an organization, size and number of

member companies;

(6) Brief summary of the company's or organization's depth and

scope of current or planned involvement in the South African market;

(7) Export/foreign investment experience in other major markets;

(8) Optional brief statement (not more than 1 page) of any

additional reasons why each candidate should be considered for

membership on the Committee; and

(9) A personal resume.

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

received no later than May 30, 1998.

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

Miller, Director, Office of Africa, either by fax on 202-482-5198, or

by mail to Room 2037, U.S. Department of Commerce, Washington, D.C.

20230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mrs. S. K. Miller of the 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. 1512, 32 Stat. 825.

Sally Miller,

Director, Office of Africa.

[FR Doc. 98-11316 Filed 4-28-98; 8:45 am]

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