Notice of Membership Opportunity for the U.S.-Haiti Business Development Council

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

Notice of Membership Opportunity for the U.S.-Haiti Business

Development Council

AGENCY: International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.

SUMMARY: The U.S.-Haiti Business Development Council (BDC) was

established in December, 1994 as a principal component of the

Department of Commerce's program of activities in support of the

Clinton Administration's Haiti Recovery Initiative. The BDC is chaired

jointly by the U.S. and Haitian governments. 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 is to provide a forum through

which U.S. and Haitian private sector representatives can engage in

constructive exchanges of information on commercial matters, and in

which governments can exchange information and more effectively work

together on issues of mutual concern relating to the following:

--Identifying commercial opportunities, impediments, and issues of

concern to the respective business communities;

--Improving the dissemination of appropriate commercial information on

both markets;

--Promoting trade/business development and promotion programs to assist

the respective business communities in accessing each market, including

trade missions, exhibits, seminars, and other events;

--Facilitating appropriate technical cooperation; and,

--Considering other steps that may be taken to foster growth and

enhance commercial relations.

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 Haiti.

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 shall be composed of two sections, a U.S. section and a

Haitian section. The U.S. section will be chaired by the Under

Secretary for International Trade of the Department of Commerce, or his

designee, and will include approximately 25 members from the U.S.

private sector. All potential candidates will be vetted in accordance

with the Department of Commerce's vetting procedures.

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

potential candidates must:

-- Must represent a U.S. commercial interest involved in trade and/or

investment in Haiti; and,

--Not be a registered foreign agent under the Foreign Agents

Registration Act of 1938, as amended (FARA).

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In reviewing eligible candidates, the Department of Commerce will

consider such selection factors as:

--Depth of experience in the Haitian market;

--Import/export experience;

--Industry or service sector represented;

--When possible, 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

company or organization sponsoring each individual; company's or

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

organization; export experience/foreign investment experience; a brief

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

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

business community each candidate would represent; and a statement that

the applicant is not a registered Foreign Agent under the FARA.

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

received no later than June 1, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Please send your requests for consideration to Ms. Elizabeth

Jaffee, Haiti Desk Officer, Office of Latin America and the Caribbean,

by fax on 202/482-0464 or by mail at Room 3025, U.S. Department of

Commerce, Washington, DC 20230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Elizabeth Jaffee, Haiti Desk

Officer, Office of Latin America/Caribbean, Room 3025, U.S. Department

of Commerce, Washington, DC 20230, telephone: 202/482-4302.

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

U.S.C. 1512, 32 Stat. 825.

Dated: April 28, 1998.

Walter M. Bastian,

Director, Office of Latin America and the Caribbean.

[FR Doc. 98-11657 Filed 4-30-98; 8:45 am]

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