United States-Turkey Business Development Council; Membership Opportunity

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

United States-Turkey Business Development Council; Membership

Opportunity

AGENCY: International Trade Administration, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce established a Business Development

Council (BDC) in cooperation with the Turkish Government in 1996. 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 vacancies on the U.S. section of the BDC, including a CEO to fill

the position of U.S. private sector Vice-Chair. 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.

DATES: In order to receive full consideration for BDC membership,

requests must be received no later than Friday, April 2, 1999.

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 3043, U.S.

Department of Commerce, 14th St. & Constitution Ave., N.W., Washington,

D.C. 20230.

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

European Union and Regional Affairs, Room 3043, U.S. Department of

Commerce, 14th St. & Constitution Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20230;

telephone: 202/482-2178.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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.

Private sector participants of the BDC will address issues relating

to the following:

--Identifying commercial opportunities, impediments and issues of

concern to the U.S. and Turkish business communities;

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--Addressing obstacles to trade and investment between the United

States and Turkey;

--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. Follow-up sessions were held in May 1998 in

Istanbul, Turkey and November 1998 in Washington, D.C.

Obligations: Private sector members are appointed for two-year

terms and serve at the discretion of the Secretary of Commerce. Members

serve in a representative capacity presenting the views and interests

of the business sector in which they operate. They are not special

government employees. Members are expected to participate fully in

defining the agenda for the BDC and in implementing its work program.

Members are 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: 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 U.S. companies or

organizations 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.

The Department of Commerce is currently seeking nominations of

outstanding individuals to fill vacancies on the U.S. section of the

BDC. Of the new CEO members of the U.S. side selected pursuant to this

notice, we intend to select a U.S. private sector Vice-Chair to

coordinate the activities of the U.S. private sector. This individual

will work directly with the Department of Commerce and with his Turkish

private sector counterpart to organize private sector participation and

follow-up of private sector recommendations. The U.S. Vice-Chair must

be a Chief Executive Officer in addition to fulfilling the general

membership criteria described above.

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 two 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.

Authority: 15 U.S.C. 1512; Reorganization Plan No. 3 of 1979, 19

U.S.C. 2171 note.

Dated: March 2, 1999.

Patrick A. Mulloy,

Assistant Secretary, Market Access and Compliance, International Trade

Administration.

[FR Doc. 99-5567 Filed 3-5-99; 8:45 am]

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