E9-21696. Request for Applicants for the Appointment to the United States-India CEO Forum

AGENCY:

Market Access and Compliance, International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

In 2005, the Governments of the United States and India established the U.S.-India CEO Forum. The two sides are reconstituting the Forum, and this notice announces membership opportunities for appointment as representatives to the U.S. Section of the Forum.

DATE:

Applications should be received no later than October 1, 2009.

ADDRESSES:

Please send requests for consideration to Linda Droker and Awinash Bawle, Office of South Asia and Oceania, U.S. Department of Commerce, either by e-mail at [e-mail] and [e-mail], or by mail to U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue, NW., Room 2310, Washington, DC 20230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Linda Droker, Director, Office of South Asia and Oceania, U.S. Department of Commerce, telephone: [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The U.S.-India CEO Forum, consisting of both private and public sector members, is expected to bring together leaders of the respective business communities of the United States and India to discuss issues of mutual interest, particularly ways to strengthen the economic and commercial ties between the two countries, and to communicate their joint recommendations to the U.S. and Indian governments. The Forum will have U.S. and Indian co-chairs; the Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy National Security Advisor for International Economic Affairs, together with the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission of India, plan to co-chair the Forum. The Forum will include a Committee comprising private sector members. The Committee will be composed of two Sections, each consisting of 10-12 members from the private sector representing the views and interests of the private sector business community in the United States and India. Each government will appoint the members to its respective Section. The Committee will provide recommendations to the two governments and their senior officials that reflect private sector views, needs, and concerns about the creation of an environment in which their respective private sectors can partner, thrive, and enhance bilateral commercial ties to expand trade and economic links between the United States and India.

Candidates are currently being sought for membership on the U.S. Section of the Forum. Each candidate must be Chief Executive Officer or President (or have a comparable level of responsibility) of a U.S.-owned or controlled company that is incorporated in and has its main headquarters located in the United States and is currently doing business in both India and the United States. Each candidate also must be a U.S. citizen or otherwise legally authorized to work in the United States and be able to travel to India and locations in the United States to attend official Forum meetings as well as Section meetings on the U.S. side. In addition, the candidate may not be a registered foreign agent under the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938, as amended.

Evaluation of applications for membership in the U.S. Section by eligible individuals will be based on the following criteria:

• A demonstrated commitment by the individual's company to the Indian market either through exports or investment.
• A demonstrated strong interest in India and its economic development.
• The ability to offer a broad perspective and business experience to the discussions.
• The ability to address cross-cutting issues that affect the entire business community.
• The ability to initiate and be responsible for activities in which the Forum will be active.

Members will be selected on the basis of who best will carry out the objectives of the Forum as stated under Supplementary Information, above. The U.S. Section of the Forum should also include members who represent a diversity of business sectors and geographic locations. To the extent possible, Section members also should represent a cross-section of small, medium, and large firms.

U.S. members will receive no compensation for their participation in Forum-related activities. Individual members will be responsible for all travel and related expenses associated with their participation in the Forum, including attendance at Committee and Section meetings. It is anticipated that the first meeting will be held in late November in Washington, DC, in conjunction with senior level government exchanges. The U.S. and Indian Sections should be prepared to work together ahead of that time to prepare recommendations to the U.S. and Indian governments. Only appointed members may participate in official Forum meetings; substitutes and alternates will not be designated. U.S. members will normally serve for two-year terms but may be reappointed.

To be considered for membership, please submit the following information as instructed in the ADDRESSES and DATES captions above: Name and title of the individual requesting consideration; name and address of company's headquarters; location of incorporation; size of the company; size of company's export trade, investment, and nature of operations or interest in India; and a brief statement of why the candidate should be considered, including information about the candidate's ability to initiate and be responsible for activities in which the Forum will be active. Applications will be considered as they are received. All candidates will be notified of whether they have been selected.

Dated: September 3, 2009.

Linda S. Droker,

Director of the Office of South Asia and Oceania.