Global Entrepreneurship

Executive Order 13731 of June 24, 2016

Global Entrepreneurship

By the authority vested in me as President by the
Constitution and the laws of the United States of
America, it is hereby ordered as follows:

Section 1. Policy. The American spirit of
entrepreneurship is one of our most admired values
around the world, and the United States has produced
many of the world's most respected businesses and
inspiring business creators. At a time when many
societies confront extremism, unemployment, and slow
economic growth, entrepreneurship holds out the promise
of opportunity, prosperity, and security.

It is in the national interest for the Federal
Government to support innovation, global
entrepreneurship, and the American private sector.
Linking entrepreneurs with capital, new networks, and
markets and providing skills and training will allow
them to grow their businesses and positively impact
their communities. It is also necessary that we help
enable our global partners to invest in the tools and
infrastructure that make this possible, including high-
speed broadband; business incubators and accelerators;
regional economic development programs and extension
services; international people-to-people exchange
programs; and the technical, export, and business
assistance and mentoring that entrepreneurs need
worldwide in order to drive economic growth and job
creation.

This order sets forth the administration and goals of
several programs designed to connect American and
foreign entrepreneurs with the Federal Government and
promote entrepreneurship across the United States and
around the world by sharing the knowledge, experience,
and connectivity necessary to help develop the next
generation of entrepreneurs.

Sec. 2. Administration of the Presidential Ambassadors
for Global Entrepreneurship Program. (a) The Secretary
of Commerce (Secretary) shall administer the
Presidential Ambassadors for Global Entrepreneurship
Program (PAGE Program) to enable individuals who
exemplify the spirit of American entrepreneurship and
who have proven track records to use their networks,
platforms, and voices to support aspiring entrepreneurs
and advance public policies that encourage
entrepreneurship in the United States and around the
globe. Individuals selected for participation in the
PAGE Program shall be known as PAGE Members.

    (b) The PAGE Program shall be administered by a
Director, appointed by the Secretary under authorities
of the Department of Commerce (Commerce). Commerce
shall provide necessary staff, resources, and
administrative support for the PAGE Program to the
extent permitted by law and within existing
appropriations.

Sec. 3. PAGE Advisory Board. (a) The Secretary shall
establish an Advisory Board to advise the Secretary by
recommending such priorities, standards, and
partnerships as may be beneficial to fulfill the goals
of the PAGE Program and to identify potential
opportunities for PAGE Members to support the PAGE
Program.

    (b) The Secretary shall serve as Chair of the
Advisory Board. In addition to the Chair, the
membership of the Advisory Board shall include the
Secretary of State, the Administrator of the United
States Agency for International Development (USAID),
the Administrator of the Small Business Administration
(SBA), and the Administrator of the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), or their
designees, and such other representatives

of executive departments and agencies (agencies) as may
be designated by the Secretary. Consistent with law,
the Advisory Board may consult with industry, academia,
and other non-federal entities to ensure that the PAGE
Program is continually identifying opportunities to
apply innovative practices in effective ways to promote
entrepreneurship.

Sec. 4. Selection of PAGE Members. (a) The Secretary,
in accordance with applicable law, shall prescribe
appropriate procedures for the selection of PAGE
Members. PAGE Members will total no more than 25 at any
given time.

    (b) PAGE Members may participate in the PAGE
Program for periods of 2 years, and may be selected to
participate for additional periods at the discretion of
the Secretary.

Sec. 5. Responsibilities of Agencies. The Department of
State (State), USAID, and SBA are encouraged to work
with the Secretary and the Advisory Board to maximize
the PAGE Program's benefits to innovation, global
entrepreneurship, and the American private sector
through the identification of opportunities for
entrepreneurs to access capital, education,
mentorships, and other services that will help to grow
their businesses.

Sec. 6. Global Entrepreneurship Summit. (a) The
Secretary of State shall coordinate the Federal
Government's participation in the Global
Entrepreneurship Summit (GES), which will focus on
connecting entrepreneurs around the world and
empowering them to expand their enterprises and build
lasting relationships with the United States;
increasing global economic prosperity; building secure
communities; promoting responsible business conduct,
including business practices to encourage greater
representation of all people, including women, youth,
and minorities; and using innovation to solve pressing
global challenges.

    (b) State shall coordinate with Commerce, USAID,
and SBA to identify and carry out programs and
activities that will further the goals of the GES to
the extent permitted by law and within existing
appropriations.

Sec. 7. Accelerating Entrepreneurship and Economic
Opportunity by Expanding Internet Access Globally.
State, in coordination with other agencies,
multilateral institutions, foreign countries, and
stakeholders, shall work to actively promote global
Internet connectivity. Specifically, the Global Connect
Initiative shall focus on encouraging foreign countries
to prioritize Internet connectivity in development
plans, promoting the formation of region-specific
multi-sector working groups to ensure technical and
regulatory best practices, and encouraging the
development of digital literacy programs in developing
nations.

Sec. 8. Global Connect International Connectivity
Steering Group. (a) In order to ensure a coordinated
and consistent approach in agency implementation of the
goals set forth in section 7 of this order, there is
hereby established a Global Connect International
Connectivity Steering Group (Steering Group), chaired
by State.

    (b) The Steering Group shall be composed of a
representative from each of the following agencies:

(i) the Department of State;

(ii) the Department of the Treasury;

(iii) the Department of Defense;

(iv) the Department of Commerce;

(v) the Department of Transportation;

(vi) the United States Trade Representative;

(vii) the Small Business Administration;

(viii) the United States Trade and Development Agency;

(ix) the Millennium Challenge Corporation;

(x) the Overseas Private Investment Corporation;

(xi) the Export-Import Bank of the United States; and

(xii) the United States Agency for International Development.

    (c) The Chair shall invite a representative from
the Federal Communications Commission, and may invite a
representative from any other department, agency,
component, or office the Chair deems appropriate, to
participate as a member of the Steering Group.
    (d) The Chair shall consult with the following
entities in setting the agenda of the Steering Group
and ensuring coordination with other Administration
policies:

(i) the National Economic Council;

(ii) the National Security Council Staff; and

(iii) the Office of Science and Technology Policy.

    (e) Not later than 6 months after the date of this
order, the Steering Group shall report to the Secretary
of State. In this report, the Steering Group shall:

(i) describe the current state of agency procedures, requirements,
programs, and policies related to the goals of the Global Connect
Initiative; and

(ii) provide updates on the strategy and the evaluation criteria for
Federal contributions to the Global Connect Initiative.

    (f) The Secretary of State may request a periodic
update of this report every 12 months thereafter,
through 2020, on progress that has been made in
achieving the goals of the Global Connect Initiative.

Sec. 9. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order
shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

(i) the authority granted by law to a department or 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.

    (Presidential Sig.)

THE WHITE HOUSE,

    June 24, 2016.