03-21509. District Export Council Nomination Opportunity

AGENCY:

International Trade Administration, Commerce.

ACTION:

Notice of opportunity to serve as a member of one of the fifty-eight District Export Councils.

SUMMARY:

The U.S. Department of Commerce is currently seeking expressions of interest from individuals in serving as a member of one of the fifty-eight District Export Councils (DECs) nationwide. The DECs are closely affiliated with the U.S. Export Assistance Centers of the U.S. Commercial Service. DECs combine the energies of more than 1,500 exporters and export service providers who promote U.S. exports. DEC members volunteer at their own expense.

DATES:

Applications for nomination to a DEC must be received by the designated local USEAC representative by September 1, 2003.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

Contact: Cory Simek, National DEC Program Manager, the U.S. Commercial Service, tel. [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

DECs sponsor and participate in numerous trade promotion activities, as well as supply specialized expertise to small and medium-sized businesses that are interested in exporting.

Selection Process: About half of the approximately 30 positions on each of the 58 DECs are open for nominations for the term that ends December 31, 2007. Nominees are recommended by the local U.S. Export Assistance Center Director, in consultation with the DEC and other local export promotion partners. After a review process, nominees are selected and appointed to a DEC by the Secretary of Commerce.

Membership Criteria: Each DEC is interested in nominating highly-motivated people. Appointment is based upon an individual's energetic leadership, position in the local business community, knowledge of day-to-day international operations, interest in export development, and willingness and ability to devote time to council activities. Members include exporters, export service providers and others whose profession supports U.S. export promotion efforts.

Authority: 15 U.S.C. 1501 et seq., 15 U.S.C. 4721.

Dated: August 11, 2003.

Bruce W. Blakeman,

Deputy Assistant Secretary for Domestic Operations, U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service.