• On November 10, 2006, an Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) was established in Luanda.  A number of U.S. companies and organizations approved a draft charter for the OSAC Angola Country Council and agreed to meet regularly to share information and ideas on how to improve the safety and security of the American private sector community in country.

• Any U.S. company or organization operating in Angola that is interested in joining the OSAC country council is cordially invited to send an e-mail to LarochelleKR2@state.gov, or call +244 222 64-1116 during business hours.

     FACTS ABOUT OSAC

• The Secretary of State’s Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) was established in 1985 to foster cooperation and the exchange of security information between the Department of State and the U.S. private sector operating abroad.

• Currently, there are over 2300 constituent organizations that participate in the program, including, businesses, religious groups, universities and colleges and other nongovernmental organizations. Non-business groups comprise approximately 15 percent of OSAC’s constituency.

• OSAC also makes its information available to over 400 Federal, State, and local law enforcement and security organizations.

• OSAC shares information with the private sector about issues such as crime and terrorism, as well as the political, economic, social and cultural atmospherics that impact on the security environment.

• Information is shared through four principal means:

1. The Council – Comprised of 30 private sector representatives, four U.S.   government representatives, and 9 U.S. government technical advisors.
2. Web Site – (www.osac.gov) Receives on average 1.8 million visits per month and includes information such as daily news highlights, security incident reports, embassy and consulate warden messages and crime/safety reports.  The site is linked to State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs web site making available all consular travel warnings and public announcements.  Additionally, approximately 140,000 electronic mail reports are sent to constituents on a monthly basis.  
3. Research and Information Support Center (RISC) – Researches issues affecting the private sector overseas and make this information available through reports, briefings and telephone consultations.  The staff averages 200 telephone consultations per month.
4. Country Councils – Replicate the OSAC public/private partnership at 64 overseas locations, bringing together the Embassy or Consulate with the private sector to share information about security issues of mutual concern.

• OSAC conducts special topic briefings for constituents that focus specifically on the global transnational terrorism threat and generally on the security environment of the many regions and countries of the world.

• OSAC supports major international events, providing information about the security environment, planning and coordination efforts.  For example, OSAC has supported the Special Olympics in Ireland, the FIFA Confederation Cup in France, the EU Summit in Greece, and the Paris Air Show in France, Dubai Air Show, WTO Meetings in Cancun, Mexico, World Bank / IMF summit in Dubai and the 2004 Athens Olympics.

• OSAC has appeared in the national news media outlets such as the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Newsweek, and Forbes Magazine.