NOMINATION FOR SPRING 2006 FSN ECONOMIC TRAINING:

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 GEORGETOWN 000052

SIPDIS

FSI - Economics Division Lisa Fox, Ed Sagurton, Andrea
Clipper

E.O.12958:N/A
TAGS: ECON AFSI AFSN
SUBJECT: NOMINATION FOR SPRING 2006 FSN ECONOMIC TRAINING:
JILLIAN DUNCAN

REF. STATE 01355


1. Post nominates Economic/Commercial Assistant Jillian R.
Duncan for the Spring 2006 PE220 FSN Economic Training from
May 1-12, 2006. Information requested in Reftel follows:


A. Name and grade of FSN
Jillian R. Duncan
FSN-8/1


B. Date of birth
January 22, 1977


C. Nationality
Guyanese


D. Passport Number
O867424


E. Agency
Department of State


F. Position title
Economic & Commercial Assistant


G. American supervisor's name and email address
Edward P. Luchessi LuchessiEP@state.gov


H. FSN's education, job experience and current
responsibilities

Education:
1993-1997 University of Guyana
Bachelor of Social Science Economics.

Job experience:
Guyana Office for Investment
2000 - 2004 Investment Officer
Established in 1994, the Guyana Office for Investment is a
semi-autonomous Government agency responsible for providing
efficient and effective investor and exporter services.
Responsibilities included:
Assisting investors by guiding them through investment
procedures, incentives offered and facilitating contact with
Government Officials and Private Sector
Organizations/Officials particularly in the Information and
Communication Technology Sectors.
Maintaining a list of business opportunities in Guyana and
preparing specific business opportunity profiles for
distribution to investors. Completed business opportunity
profiles include Aquaculture, Sand Based Industries, and a
market study of the UK Market for Cooked Frozen Shrimp.
Updating Informational Materials and disseminating same to
Investment intermediaries, Private Sector Organizations,
local and international Chambers of Commerce, Investment &
Export Promotion Agencies, Embassies and Consulates.

Demerara Oxygen Company Ltd. (DOCOL)
1998 - 2000 ISO Management Representative
Responsibilities included:
Coordinating and preparing DOCOL for a Registration Audit
and two Surveillance Audits for Certification by the
Trinidad and Tobago Bureau of Standards (TTBS) for the
adaptation of the ISO 9002 Quality Management System.
Managing the document and data control systems for DOCOL.
Liaising with external parties, particularly with the
certification body, TTBS, on matters related to the Quality
Management System.
Wrote and implemented the procedures for customer
complaints, control of quality records, the control of non-
conforming product, corrective and preventive action and
Training.
Managing the system of internal quality audits.
Conducting internal quality audits.
Coordinating the Triennial Customer Survey
Conducting market research in the 100lb LPG cylinder market

Current Responsibilities

Participates in the analysis and reporting of economic and
commercial issues in Guyana. Develops and maintains a high
level of contacts with US and Guyanese businesses and
government officials to enhance the performance of the
office. Uses contacts to ensure that each new FSO is able to
interact with key leaders to achieve office goals. Serves as
primary advisor to the Economic and Commercial FSO on all
economic and commercial issues. Helps to formulate office
goals and develop implementation plans. Handles all protocol
issues for the office. Also plans and executes all office
events, including: the Embassy booth at GUYEXPO, the bi-
annual catalog show, all seminars, meetings and conferences.
Contributes to Embassy analysis of economic and commercial
trends. Researches, compiles and drafts all economic and
commercial reports and correspondence, including diplomatic
notes, talking points, marketing reports, the Country
Commercial Guide, the post Government of Guyana directory,
post's quarterly newsletter, the World Trade Data reports,
Agent distribution reports and the Foreign Trade index.

Assists US importers in navigating through the labyrinth of
Guyanese Customs regulations and practices. Works with
Guyanese firms to identify and coordinate with US suppliers.
Reports to US firms on Guyanese government policies
affecting US goods or imports. Undertakes market surveys to
provide information on market size, principle competition
and availability if agents and distributors for US
exporters. Monitors and reports on Guyanese tender offers to
the Department of Commerce so that US businesses can bid
competitively. Responsible for creating, conducting and
analyzing Guyanese market surveys for the benefit of US
businesses.

Disseminates US economic and commercial news, information
and publications to local businesses and leaders in order to
enhance US business opportunities and to facilitate the
growth of free enterprise in Guyana. Manages all economic
and commercial inquiries from US and Guyanese businesses and
leaders. Organizes and updates the Commercial library and
assists library users in research. Responsible for finding
funding to update the library and budgeting available funds.
Also liaises with Department of Commerce to acquire
reference materials. In addition, reviews all acquisitions
and selects new materials for acquisition. Drafts and signs
responses to trade inquiries.


I. Description of how course would enhance nominee's
productivity at post

The Economic and Commercial Assistant has not received
formal Economic training since taking the position two years
ago. Based on previous job experiences, our nominee has
worked to provide the Political and Economic Section and the
wider Embassy with up to date Economic data and reports. The
Course will greatly enhance the section's ability to provide
the Department with key economic reporting that would be
useful to advance its agenda in developing countries such as
Guyana.


J. Suggestions for course content
Based on previous economic training, the nominee will find
the following useful. (Written in order of usefulness)


1. What Washington Wants

2. Post Reporting

3. Economic Data Analysis Skills

4. Analysis of Monetary and Fiscal Policy

5. Consultations with policy officials and end-users of
post's reports

6. Drafting Skills

7. Briefing Skills

8. Interviewing Skills

9. Banking and Financial Market Reforms

10. Trade and Exchange Rate Regime Reforms

11. Debates on World Bank and IMF Policy Reform Approaches

12. Web and other resources for finding key US economic
data


K. Comments on previous modules
N/A

BULLEN