66692 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 208 / Thursday, October 27, 2011 / Notices

Comment 4: Publication of Final Results Afghanistan’s economy. The GIRoA is • Facilitate meetings Comment 5: Zeroing committed to promoting economic between U.S. and Afghan to development, increasing production and promote the development of U.S. [FR Doc. 2011–27446 Filed 10–26–11; 8:45 am] earnings, promoting technology transfer, commercial opportunities in BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P improving national prosperity and Afghanistan. advancing Afghans’ standard of living in • Introduce U.S. industry to the DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE partnership with international donor Afghan business community and agencies. GIRoA recognizes that U.S. government leaders. International Administration services, equipment and technology • Provide GIRoA policymakers with would enhance development of U.S. industry feedback on the direction Executive-Led Trade Mission to Afghanistan’s industrial sector and lead of its commercial reforms. Afghanistan to increased productivity and greater Mission Scenario technical skills for Afghan citizens. AGENCY: International donors continue to The business development mission Administration, Department of support Afghanistan’s development; will take place in Kabul, Afghanistan. Commerce. however, long-term sustainable growth Participants will meet with Afghan ACTION: Notice. will take place through private sector leaders in the public and private sector, development. learn about the market by participating Mission Description To support Afghanistan’s private in Embassy briefings, and explore The United States Department of sector and promote reconstruction additional opportunities at networking Commerce’s International Trade efforts, GIRoA has identified domestic receptions. Activities will include one- Administration is organizing a business priority sectors needing investment and on-one meetings with pre-screened development trade mission to Kabul, development in both equipment and business prospects. (Note that the Afghanistan in February 2012. This services. These priority sectors are: regular workweek in Afghanistan is mission will be led by a Senior Construction and infrastructure, Sunday through Thursday.) Commerce Department official. Targeted logistics and transportation, mining, Proposed Timetable sectors include: Construction (including agribusiness, and information and engineering, architecture, transportation communications technology providers. (The State Department will follow and logistics, and infrastructure); The economy is beginning to move RSO procedure in reference to security mining (including equipment, from one based on state owned within and around the mission event.) technology, and services); agribusiness; enterprises and the informal economy to Day One (weekend) Travel Day—Depart and information and communications a more formal market economy. A U.S. on evening flight technology. The mission’s goal is to notable sign of this transition for the Day Two Travel Day—Participants help U.S. companies explore long-term U.S. business community is the arrive in transit city (tbd) and business opportunities in Afghanistan establishment of an American Chamber overnight in pre-arranged departure and enhance U.S.—Afghan commercial of Commerce in Kabul in 2010. from transit city relations by providing U.S. participants Kabul is the capital of Afghanistan, Day Three Travel Day, Arrive in Kabul, with first-hand market information, situated in Kabul Province. With a total Afghanistan (afternoon) Evening access to government decision makers metropolitan population of 2.6 million, Event as well as one-on-one meetings with it is also the largest city in Afghanistan. Day Four Security Briefing, Market business contacts, including potential It is the commercial center for the Briefing, One-on-One Business agents, distributors, and partners, to country, with national Afghan Appointments, Reception position themselves to enter or expand businesses, associations, and GIRoA Day Five Market Briefing, Industry their presence in the targeted sectors. ministries maintaining a presence in Sector Briefing, Meetings with Kabul. Afghanistan’s GDP per capita is Government and Industry Officials, Commercial Setting approximately $500, and has One-on-One Business The Government of the Islamic experienced double digit growth in Appointments, Reception Republic of Afghanistan (GIRoA) is recent years. Day Six One-on-One Business taking steps to develop its market The Commerce Department has Appointments (optional), Travel economy and increase both domestic supported commercial and private Day—Depart for the U.S. (evening) and foreign private investment. GIRoA sector development in Afghanistan Day Seven Travel Day—Arrive in U.S. continues to develop legal and since 2002, and posted a Senior (morning) administrative regulatory frameworks Commercial Officer in Kabul in June Participation Requirements that will lead to a market more 2010. conducive to trade, investment and This business development mission is private sector development. For Mission Goals designed for a minimum of 10 qualified example, Afghanistan adopted an The goal of the mission is to provide companies and can accommodate a investment law that allows investments U.S. participants with first-hand market maximum of 20 participants from the to be 100% foreign-owned. information, access to government companies accepted. All parties Additionally, on October 28, 2010, decision makers and one-on-one interested in participating in this Afghanistan and Pakistan signed the meetings with business contacts, business development mission to Kabul, Afghanistan Pakistan Transit Trade including potential agents, distributors, Afghanistan, must submit a completed Agreement (APTTA), allowing Afghan and partners, so that they can position application package for consideration by container trucks to drive through themselves to enter the Afghan market the U.S. Department of Commerce. All Pakistan to the Indian border, and also or expand their business presence in applicants will be evaluated on their to port cities such as Karachi. Afghanistan. Thus, the mission seeks to: ability to meet certain conditions and to After of 30 years of war require • Improve U.S. companies’ best satisfy the selection criteria as reconstruction and development efforts understanding of commercial outlined below. U.S. companies already are required to grow and stabilize opportunities in Afghanistan. doing business in the target sectors as

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well as U.S. companies seeking to enter may be considered during the selection DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE this market for the first time are process) encouraged to apply. Referrals from political organizations International Trade Administration Fees and Expenses: and any documents containing After a company has been selected to references to partisan political activities President’s Council: Meeting of participate in the mission, a payment to (including political contributions) will the President’s Export Council the U.S. Department of Commerce in the be removed from an applicant’s AGENCY: International Trade form of a participation fee is required. submission and will not be considered Administration, U.S. Department of The participation fee is $4,800 for a during the selection process. Commerce. single participant for a small- or ACTION: Notice of an open meeting. medium-sized enterprise (SME) 1 and Timeframe for Recruitment and Applications $5,245 for a single participant for a large SUMMARY: The President’s Export firm. Participants per company will be Mission recruitment will be Council will hold a meeting to discuss limited due to space constraints. The fee conducted in an open and public topics related to the National Export for each additional participant is $1,500. manner, including posting on the U.S. Initiative, and to provide advice Applicants are encouraged to provide a Department of Commerce trade missions regarding how to promote U.S. , clear business purpose and clarification calendar—http://www.trade.gov/trade- jobs, and growth. of role of any additional participants missions/—and other Internet Web sites, DATES: November 16, 2011 at 9:30 a.m. proposed to participate in the mission. publication in domestic trade (ET) Interpretation services for official publications and association ADDRESSES: The President’s Export activities are included in the fee. newsletters, direct outreach to the Council will convene its next meeting Expenses for travel, lodging, meals, and Department’s clients and distribution via live webcast on the Internet at incidentals will be the responsibility of lists, publication in the Federal http://whitehouse.gov/live. each mission participant. Lodging and Register, and announcements at meals for each participant will cost industry meetings, symposia, FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: approximately $150 USD per day. conferences, and trade shows. Michael Masserman, President’s Export Conditions for Participation: Recruitment for the mission will Council, Room 4043, 1401 Constitution • An applicant must submit a begin immediately and conclude no Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230, completed and signed mission later than January 3, 2012, by the close telephone: (202) 482–4501, email: application and supplemental of business. Applications received after [email protected]. application materials, including January 3, 2012, will be considered only SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: information on the company’s products if space and scheduling constraints Background: The President’s Export and/or services, primary market permit. Council was first established by objectives, and goals for participation. If Executive Order on December 20, 1973 Disclaimer, Security, and the U.S. Department of Commerce to advise the President on matters Transportation receives an incomplete application, the relating to U.S. export trade and report Department may reject the application, Business development mission to the President on its activities and on request additional information, or take members participate in the mission and its recommendations for expanding U.S. the lack of information into account undertake related travel at their own exports. The President’s Export Council when evaluating the application. risk and are advised to obtain insurance was renewed most recently by Executive • Each applicant must also certify accordingly. Any question regarding Order 13585 of September 30, 2011, for that the products and services it seeks insurance coverage must be resolved by the two-year period October 1, 2011 and to export through the mission are either the participant. The U.S. Government ending September 30, 2013. This produced in the United States, or, if not, does not make any representations or Committee is established in accordance marketed under the name of a U.S. firm guarantees as to the safety or security of with the provisions of the Federal and have at least fifty-one percent U.S. participants. Companies should consult Advisory Committee Act (FACA), as content. the State Department’s travel warning amended, 5 U.S.C. App. Selection Criteria for Participation: for Afghanistan: http://travel.state.gov/ Public Submissions: The public is Selection will be based on the travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_2121.html; invited to submit written statements to following criteria: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/ the President’s Export Council by C.O.B. • Suitability of the company’s tw/tw_2121.html. November 1, 2011 by either of the products or services to the mission ITA will coordinate with the U.S. following methods: goals. Embassy in Kabul to arrange for • Applicant’s potential for business transportation of the mission Electronic Statements in Afghanistan. Submit electronic statements via the • participants to and from the airport and Consistency of the applicant’s goals lodging facilities. The primary venue for President’s Export Council Web site at and objectives with the stated scope of the mission has security measures in http://trade.gov/pec/peccomments.asp; the mission. place. or (Additional factors, such as diversity Contact: Ariana Monti Marshall, Paper Statements of company, size, type and location, Afghanistan Reconstruction and Investment Task Force—DC, Market Send paper statements to Michael 1 An SME is defined as a firm with 500 or fewer Access and Compliance, Tel: (202) 482– Masserman, President’s Export Council, employees or that otherwise qualifies as a small business under SBA regulations. See http://www. 3754, Email: afghanmission2011@ Room 4043, 1401 Constitution Avenue sba.gov/contractingopportunities/owners/basics/ ;trade.gov. NW., Washington, DC 20230. whatismallbusiness/index.html. Parent companies, All statements will be posted on the affiliates, and subsidiaries will be considered when Elnora Moye, President’s Export Council Web site determining business size. The dual pricing reflects Trade Program Assistant. the Commercial Service’s user fee schedule that (http://trade.gov/pec/peccomments.asp) became effective May 1, 2008. See http://www. [FR Doc. 2011–27864 Filed 10–26–11; 8:45 am] without change, including any business export.gov/newsletter/march2008/initiatives.html. BILLING CODE 3510–FP–P or personal information provided such

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