7 January 2009

[Federal Register: January 7, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 4)]
[Notices]               
[Page 694]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr07ja09-23]                         


[[Page 694]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

 
Notice of Vacancies on the U.S.-Iraq Business Dialogue

AGENCY: International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Commerce and the Iraqi Ministry of 
Trade established the U.S.-Iraq Business Dialogue (Business Dialogue or 
Dialogue) in July 2006. This notice announces four open membership 
opportunities for American representatives to join the U.S. section of 
the Dialogue.

DATES: Applications must be received no later than January 21, 2008; 5 
p.m. EST.

ADDRESSES: Please send requests for consideration to Ms. Susan Hamrock 
Mann, Director, Iraq Investment and Reconstruction Task Force, U.S. 
Department of Commerce, either by fax on 202-482-0980 or by mail to 
U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW., Mail 
Stop 3868, Washington, DC 20230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Kevin M. Reichelt, Office of the 
Middle East, U.S. Department of Commerce, Room 2029-B, Washington, DC 
20230. Phone: 202-482-2896.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The U.S. Department of Commerce and the 
Iraqi Ministry of Trade established the Dialogue as a bilateral forum 
to facilitate private sector business growth in Iraq and to strengthen 
trade and investment ties between the United States and Iraq. During 
Secretary of Commerce Carlos M. Gutierrez's visit to Iraq in July 2006, 
he joined Iraqi Minister of Trade Dr. Abd-al-Falah al-Sudani in signing 
the Joint Statement on Commercial Cooperation, which formally provided 
for the establishment of the Dialogue. In their next meeting in 
September 2006, the Secretary and the Minister approved and signed the 
Terms of Reference for the Dialogue.
    The U.S. Secretary of Commerce and the Iraqi Minister of Trade co-
chair the Dialogue. The Dialogue consists of a U.S. Section and an 
Iraqi Section. Each Section consists of members from the private 
sector, representing the views and interests of the private sector 
business community. Each Party appoints the members to its respective 
Section. The Sections provide advice and counsel to the U.S. Department 
of Commerce and the Iraqi Ministry of Trade that reflect private sector 
views, needs, and concerns regarding private sector business 
development in Iraq and enhanced bilateral commercial ties that could 
form the basis for expanded trade between the United States and Iraq. 
The Dialogue will exchange information and encourage bilateral 
discussions that address the following areas:

--Factors that affect the growth of private sector business in Iraq, 
including disincentives to trade and investment and regulatory 
obstacles to job creation and investment growth;
--Initiatives that the Government of Iraq might take, such as enacting, 
amending, enforcing, or repealing laws and regulations, to promote 
private sector business growth in Iraq;
--Promotion of business opportunities in both Iraq and the United 
States, and identification of opportunities for U.S. and Iraqi firms to 
work together; and
--Attracting U.S. businesses to opportunities in Iraq and serving as a 
catalyst for Iraqi private sector growth.

    The members will represent a cross-section of American business 
with an emphasis, to the extent possible, on agribusiness and food 
processing, financial services and private equity, construction and 
housing, information technology, consumer products, and manufacturing 
industries. The following sectors currently are represented on the U.S. 
Section of the USIBD: Telecommunications; petroleum; construction 
equipment; financial; and logistics. Applications to represent any 
sector will be considered. However, in an effort to expand the sectors 
represented on the U.S. Section of the Dialogue, the Department 
particularly encourages applications from persons who would represent 
the consumer goods and services, private equity, health, aviation, and 
electricity sectors.
    Members serve in a representative capacity representing the views 
and interests of their particular industries. Members are not special 
government employees, and receive no compensation for their 
participation in Dialogue activities. Only appointed members may 
participate in official Dialogue meetings; substitutes and alternates 
will not be designated. Section members serve for three-year terms, but 
may be reappointed. U.S. Section members serve at the discretion of the 
U.S. Department of Commerce.
    The U.S. Department of Commerce is currently seeking candidates for 
four membership positions on the U.S. Section of the Dialogue. 
Candidates will be evaluated based on: Their interest in the Iraqi 
market; export/investment experience; contribution to diversity based 
on size of company, geographic location, and sector; and ability to 
initiate and be responsible for activities in which the Business 
Dialogue will be active.
    In order to be eligible for membership in the U.S. section, 
potential candidates shall be:

--A U.S. citizen residing in the United States, or able to travel to 
the United States or other location to attend official Business 
Dialogue meetings;
--The President or CEO (or comparable level of responsibility) of a 
private sector company; if the company is very large, the head of a 
sizeable operating unit of that company; or the head of a non-profit 
entity, such as a trade or industry association, who possesses unique 
technical expertise, an outstanding reputation, and the ability to 
provide counsel with respect to private sector business development in 
Iraq; and
--Not a registered foreign agent under the Foreign Agents Registration 
Act of 1938, as amended.

    Members will be selected on the basis of who best will carry out 
the objectives of the Business Dialogue as stated in the Terms of 
Reference establishing the Dialogue. (The Terms of Reference are 
available from the point of contact listed above.) Recommendations for 
appointment will be made to the Secretary of Commerce. All candidates 
will be notified of whether they have been selected.
    To be considered for membership, please submit the following 
information as instructed in the addresses and dates captions above: 
Name(s) and title(s) of the individual(s) requesting consideration; 
name and address of company or non-profit entity to be represented; 
size of the company or non-profit entity; description of relevant 
product, service, or technical expertise; size of company's export 
trade, investment, and/or international program experience; nature of 
operations or interest in Iraq; and a brief statement of why the 
candidate should be appointed, including information about the 
candidate's ability to initiate and be responsible for activities in 
which the Business Dialogue will be active.

    Dated: January 2, 2008.
Susan Hamrock Mann,
Director, Iraq Investment and Reconstruction Task Force.
 [FR Doc. E9-59 Filed 1-6-09; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510-DA-P