humanitarian assistance that saves lives, reduces suffering, helps victims return to self-sufficiency, and reinforces democracy. Programs focus on disaster prevention, preparedness, and mitigation; timely delivery of disaster relief and short-term rehabilitation supplies and services; preservation of basic institutions of civil governance during disaster crisis; support for democratic institutions during periods of national transition; and building and reinforcement of local capacity to anticipate and handle disasters and their aftermath. Overseas Organizations U.S. Agency for International Development country organizations are located in countries where a bilateral program is being implemented. The incountry organizations are subject to the direction and guidance of the chief U.S. diplomatic representative in the country, usually the Ambassador. The organizations report to the Agency's Assistant Administrators for the four geographic bureaus-the Bureaus for Africa, Asia and Near East, Europe and the New Independent States, and Latin America and the Caribbean. There are three types of country organizations: USAID missions, offices of the USAID representative, and USAID sections of the embassy. Agency missions are located in countries in which the U.S. economic assistance program is major, continuing, and usually involves multiple types of aid in several sectors. Each mission is headed by a mission director, who has been delegated program planning, implementation, and representation authorities. Offices of the USAID representative are located in countries in which the economic assistance program is moderate, declining, or has limited objectives. The offices are usually headed by a USAID representative, who also has delegated authority for program implementation and representation. Agency sections of the embassy are located in countries where the assistance program is very small or is being phased out. Program planning and implementation authorities are delegated to the chief U.S. diplomatic representative who is assisted by the USAID affairs officer. The overseas program activities that involve more than one country are administered by regional offices. These offices may also perform country organizational responsibilities for assigned countries. Generally, the offices are headed by a regional development officer. Development Assistance Coordination and Representative Offices provide liaison with various international organizations and represent U.S. interests in development assistance matters. Such offices may be only partially staffed by Agency personnel and may be headed by employees of other U.S. Government agencies. Country Organizations U.S. Agency for International Development (Missions, Offices, or Sections of Embassy) F. Gary E. Lewis, Acting Lowell Lynch (OR) Nigeria/Lagos Oman/Muscat Pakistan-Afghanistan/ Islamabad. Panama/Panama City ....... David Mutchler (MD) Country Organizations-U.S. Agency for International Development-Continued (Missions, Offices, or Sections of Embassy) Country Paraguay/Asuncion Peru/Lima Philippines/Manila Philippines/Manila (ASEAN) Poland/Warsaw Romania/Bucharest Russia/Moscow Rwanda/Kigali Senegal/Dakar Yemen/Sanaa Zimbabwe/Harare Officer in Charge1 Richard Nelson (OR) George Wachtenheim (MD) Gregory F. Huger (MD) William D. McKinney (OR) Joseph Stepanek (MD) Peter Benedict (MD) 1MD: Mission Director; D: Director; OR: Office of the AID Representative; DO: Development Officer; RD: Regional Director; AAO: AID Affairs Officer for Section of Embassy; CO: Coordinator in Washington International Organizations-Agency for International Development (Selected Regional Organizations) (A: Advisor; C: Counselor; ED: Executive Director; MD: Mission Director; AID R: AID Representative; RD: Regional Director) Regional Economic Development Services Offices!. Office for East and Southern Africa-Nairobi, Kenya Office for West and Central Africa Cote d'Ivoire, Abidjan Caribbean Regional Development Office/Bridgetown-Bridgetown, Barbados Development Assistance Coordination and Representation Offices U.S. Mission to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture-Rome, Italy for Economic Cooperation and Development-Paris, France. Keith Brown (RD) Williard Pearson (RD) Paul Bisek, Acting (RD) Hugh Smith (ED) Office of the AID Development Adviser to the U.S. Executive Director to the Asian Development Terry Barker (A) U.S. Mission to the European Office of the United Nations and Other International Organiza- (Vacancy) (AID R) AID Office for Development Cooperation-Tokyo, Japan Paul White (C) Overseas Private Investment Corporation The Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) is a self-sustaining Federal agency whose purpose is to promote economic growth in developing countries by encouraging U.S. private investment in those nations. The Corporation assists American investors in four principal ways: financing of businesses through loans and loan guaranties; supporting private investment funds which provide equity for U.S. companies investing in projects overseas; insuring investments against a broad range of political risks; and engaging in outreach activities. All of these programs are designed to reduce the perceived stumbling blocks and risks associated with overseas investment. Organized as a corporation and structured to be responsive to private business, OPIC is mandated to mobilize and facilitate the participation of U.S. private capital and skills in the economic and social development of developing countries and emerging economies. Currently, OPIC programs are available for new business enterprises or expansion in some 140 countries worldwide. The Corporation encourages American overseas private investment in sound business projects, thereby improving U.S. global competitiveness, creating American jobs, and increasing U.S. exports. The Corporation does not support projects that will result in the loss of domestic jobs or have a negative impact on the host country's environment or workers' rights. The Corporation is governed by a 15member Board of Directors, of whom 8 are appointed from the private sector and 7 from the Federal Government. Activities By reducing or eliminating certain perceived political risks for investors and providing financing and assistance not otherwise available, the Corporation helps to reduce the unusual risks and problems that can make investment opportunities in the developing areas less attractive than in advanced countries. At the same time, it reduces the need for government-to-government lending programs by involving the U.S. private sector in establishing capitalgeneration and strengthening privatesector economies in developing countries. The Corporation insures U.S. investors against the political risks of expropriation, inconvertibility of local currency holdings, and damage from war, revolution, insurrection, or civil strife. It also offers a special insurance policy to U.S. contractors and exporters against arbitrary drawings of letters of credit posted as bid, performance, or advance payment guaranties. Other special programs are offered for minerals exploration, oil and gas exploration, and development and leasing operations. The Corporation offers U.S. lenders protection against both commercial and political risks by guaranteeing payment of principal and interest on loans (up to $200 million) made to eligible private enterprises. Its Direct Investment loans, offered to small and medium-sized businesses, generally cover terms of from 7 to 12 years and usually range from $2 million to $10 million with varying interest rates, depending on assessment of the commercial risks of the project financed. Additionally, OPIC supports a family. of privately managed direct investment funds in various regions and business sectors. Such funds currently operate in most countries in East Asia, sub-Saharan African, South America, Russia and other New Independent States, Poland and other countries in Central Europe, India, and Israel. Programs are available only for a new facility, expansion or modernization of an existing plant, or technological or service products designed to generate investment which will produce significant new benefits for host countries. Sources of Information U.S. International Development General Inquiries Inquiries may be directed to the Office of External Affairs, U.S. International Development Cooperation Agency, Washington, DC 20523-0001. Phone, 202-647-1850. Agency for International Development Congressional Affairs Congressional inquiries may be directed to the Bureau for Legislative and Public Affairs, Agency for International Development, Washington, DC 20523-0001. Phone, 202-647-8440. Contracting and Small Business Inquiries For information regarding contracting opportunities, contact the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, Agency for International Development, Washington, DC 20523-0001. Phone, 703-875-1551. Employment For information regarding employment opportunities, contact the Workforce Planning, Recruitment and Personnel Systems Division, Office of Human Resources, Agency for International Development, Washington, DC 20523-0001. Phone, 202-6632400. General Inquiries General inquiries may be directed to the Bureau for Legislative and Public Affairs, Agency for International Development, Washington, DC 20523-0001. Phone, 202-6471850. News Media Inquiries from the media only should be directed to the Press Relations Division, Bureau for Legislative and Public Affairs, Agency for International Development, Washington, DC 20523-0001. Phone, 202-6474274. Overseas Private Investment General Inquiries Inquiries should be directed to the Information Office, Overseas Private Investment Corporation, 1100 New York Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20527. Phone, 202336-8799. Fax, 202-336-8700. E-mail, opic/s=info@mhs.attmail.com. Publications OPIC programs are further detailed in the Annual Report and the Program Summary. These publications are available free of charge. The United States International Trade Commission furnishes studies, reports, and recommendations involving international trade and tariffs to the President, the Congress, and other Government agencies. In this capacity, the Commission conducts a variety of investigations, public hearings, and research projects pertaining to the international trade policies of the United States. The United States International Trade Commission is an independent agency created by act of September 8, 1916 (39 Stat. 795), and originally named the United States Tariff Commission. The name was changed to the United States International Trade Commission by section 171 of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2231). The Commission's present powers and duties are provided for largely by the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1654); the Agricultural Adjustment Act (7 U.S.C. 601); the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 (19 U.S.C. 1801); the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2101); the Trade Agreements Act of 1979 (19 U.S.C. 2501); and the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988 (19 U.S.C. 2901). Six Commissioners are appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate for 9-year terms, unless appointed to fill an unexpired term. The Chairman and Vice Chairman are designated by the President for 2year terms, and succeeding Chairmen may not be of the same political party. The Chairman generally is responsible for the administration of the Commission. Not more than three Commissioners may be members of the same political party (19 U.S.C. 1330). Activities The Commission performs a number of functions pursuant to the statutes referred to above. Under the Tariff Act of 1930, the Commission is given broad powers of investigation relating to the customs laws of the United States and foreign countries; the volume of importation in comparison with domestic production and consumption; the conditions, causes, and effects relating to competition of foreign industries with those of the United States; and all other factors affecting competition between articles of the United States and imported articles. The Commission is required to make available to the President and to the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives and to the Committee on Finance of the Senate, whenever requested, all information at its command and is directed to make such investigations and reports as may be requested by the President or by either of said committees or by either branch of the Congress. The Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988 amended several of the statutes administered by the Commission and, in addition, required the Commission to conduct several industry competitiveness investigations. In order to carry out these responsibilities, the Commission is required to engage in extensive research, conduct specialized studies, and maintain a high degree of expertise in all matters relating to the commercial and international trade policies of the United States. Trade Negotiations The Commission advises the President as to the probable economic effect on the domestic industry and consumers of modification of duties and other barriers to trade that may be considered for inclusion in any proposed trade agreement with foreign countries (19 U.S.C. 2151). Generalized System of Preferences The Commission advises the President with respect to every article that may be considered for preferential removal of the duty on imports from designated developing countries as to the probable |