Membership OpportunityU.S.-Turkey Business Development Council

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

Membership Opportunity--U.S.-Turkey Business Development Council

AGENCY: International Trade Administration, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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

Department of Commerce has established a Business Development Council

(BDC) in cooperation with the Turkish Government. The BDC has

established eleven working groups: energy/environment,

telecommunications, textiles, health, education, defense, finance,

agriculture, tourism, transportation, and media. The Department of

Commerce is currently seeking nominations of outstanding individuals to

fill existing vacancies on the U.S. section of the BDC in the tourism

and textiles sectors. The Department of Commerce is also accepting

applications for review for additional U.S. members on the other BDC

working groups. The purpose of the BDC is 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 work

more effectively on issues of mutual concern relating to the following:

--Identifying commercial opportunities, and 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;

--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 was held in Ankara, Turkey in

January 1998 with government and private sector members from both

countries in attendance. A follow-up session was held in May 1998 in

Istanbul, Turkey with an upcoming meeting expected to take place in

Washington, DC in the fall of 1998.

Obligations: Private sector members are appointed for a two year

term and serve at the discretion of the Secretary of Commerce and as

representatives of the U.S. business community. They are expected to

participate fully in defining the agenda for the BDC and in

implementing its work program. They are fully responsible for travel,

living and personal expenses associated with their participation, and

may be responsible for a pro rata share of administrative and

communications costs of the Council.

Criteria: The Council is composed of two sections, the U.S. section

and the Turkish section. The U.S. section is chaired by the Under

Secretary for International Trade of the Department of Commerce and

includes 23 members from the U.S. private sector.

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

potential candidates must be:

--U.S. citizens or permanent U.S. residents;

--CEOs or other senior management level employees 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;

--Company size or, if an organization, size and number of member

companies;

--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

organization or company sponsoring each individual; company or

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

organization, the size and number of member companies; export/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 business community each candidate would

represent; and a personal resume.

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

received no later than Monday, August 31, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Please send your requests for consideration to Mr. David De

Falco, International Trade Specialist, Office of European Union and

Regional Affairs, by fax on 202/482-2897 or by mail at Room 3036, U.S.

Department of Commerce, Washington, DC 20230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. David De Falco of the Office of

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European Union and Regional Affairs, Room 3036, U.S. Department of

Commerce, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: 202/482-2178.

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: July 23, 1998.

Patrick A. Mulloy,

Assistant Secretary, Market Access and Compliance, International Trade

Administration.

[FR Doc. 98-20230 Filed 7-28-98; 8:45 am]

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