Establishing the President's Advisory Council on Doing Business in Africa

Executive Order 13675 of August 5, 2014

Establishing the President's Advisory Council on
Doing Business in Africa

By the authority vested in me as President by the
Constitution and the laws of the United States of
America, and in order to promote broad-based economic
growth and job creation in the United States and Africa
by encouraging U.S. companies to trade with and invest
in Africa, it is hereby ordered as follows:

Section 1. Policy. The United States recognizes that
Africa is a region of growing economic opportunity and
innovation and aims to expand a trade and investment
partnership that is grounded in shared interests and
mutual responsibility. Africa offers a diverse and
broad range of trade and investment opportunities in
national and regional markets. The U.S. Government will
encourage U.S. companies to seize the trade and
investment opportunities offered by Africa's national
and regional markets and help drive inclusive and
sustained economic growth and the region's economic
expansion, while also creating jobs here in the United
States.

Sec. 2. Establishment. Not later than 180 days after
the date of this order, the Secretary of Commerce shall
establish the President's Advisory Council on Doing
Business in Africa (Advisory Council).

Sec. 3. Membership. (a) The Advisory Council shall
consist of not more than 15 private sector corporate
members, including small businesses and representatives
from infrastructure, agriculture, consumer goods,
banking, services, and other industries. The Advisory
Council shall be broadly representative of the key
industries with business interests in the functions of
the Advisory Council as set forth in section 4 of this
order. Appointments to the Advisory Council shall be
made without regard to political affiliation.

    (b) Members of the Advisory Council shall be
appointed by the Secretary of Commerce, in consultation
with the Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee (TPCC),
which was authorized by statute in 1992 (15 U.S.C.
4727) and established by Executive Order 12870 of
September 30, 1993.

Sec. 4. Functions. (a) The Advisory Council shall
advise the President, through the Secretary of
Commerce, on strengthening commercial engagement
between the United States and Africa, with a focus on
advancing the President's Doing Business in Africa
Campaign as described in the U.S. Strategy Toward Sub-
Saharan Africa of June 14, 2012.

    (b) In providing the advice described in subsection
(a) of this section, the Advisory Council shall provide
information, analysis, and recommendations to the
President that address the following, in addition to
other topics deemed relevant by the President, the
Secretary of Commerce, or the Advisory Council:

(i) creating jobs in the United States and Africa through trade and
investment;

(ii) developing strategies by which the U.S. private sector can identify
and take advantage of trade and investment opportunities in Africa;

(iii) building lasting commercial partnerships between the U.S. and African
private sectors;

(iv) facilitating U.S. business participation in Africa's infrastructure
development;

(v) contributing to the growth and improvement of Africa's agricultural
sector by encouraging partnerships between U.S. and African companies to
bring innovative agricultural technologies to Africa;

(vi) making available to the U.S. private sector an accurate understanding
of the opportunities presented for increasing trade with and investment in
Africa;

(vii) developing and strengthening partnerships and other mechanisms to
increase U.S. public and private sector financing of trade with and
investment in Africa;

(viii) analyzing the effect of policies in the United States and Africa on
U.S. trade and investment interests in Africa;

(ix) identifying other means to expand commercial ties between the United
States and Africa; and

(x) building the capacity of Africa's young entrepreneurs to develop trade
and investment ties with U.S. partners.

Sec. 5. Administration. (a) The Department of Commerce
shall provide funding and administrative support for
the Advisory Council to the extent permitted by law and
within existing appropriations.

    (b) Members of the Advisory Council shall serve
without either compensation or reimbursement of
expenses.
    (c) The Secretary of Commerce shall designate a
senior officer or employee of the Department of
Commerce to serve as the Executive Director for the
Advisory Council.
    (d) The Secretary of Commerce shall consult with
the TPCC on matters and activities pertaining to the
Advisory Council, including on activities related to
implementation of the advice of the Advisory Council.
The Secretary of Commerce shall invite representatives
of TPCC agencies to attend meetings of the Advisory
Council when issues relevant to their responsibilities
are to be considered.

Sec. 6. Termination. The Advisory Council shall
function for such period as may be necessary but shall
terminate 2 years after the date of this order, unless
extended by the President.

Sec. 7. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order
shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department, agency, or the
head thereof; or

(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget
relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

    (b) This order shall be implemented consistent with
applicable law and subject to the availability of
appropriations.
    (c) This order is not intended to, and does not,
create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural,
enforceable at law or in equity by any party against
the United States, its departments, agencies, or
entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any
other person.

    (d) Insofar as the Federal Advisory Committee Act
(5 U.S.C. App.) (the “Act”) may apply to the Advisory
Council, any functions of the President under the Act,
except for those in section 6 of the Act, shall be
performed by the Secretary of Commerce in accordance
with the guidelines that have been issued by the
Administrator of General Services.

    (Presidential Sig.)

THE WHITE HOUSE,

    August 5, 2014.