USTDA generates an average of $231 in U.S. exports for every dollar it programs. Since its inception, the Agency has supported more than $119 billion in U.S. exports to infrastructure projects in emerging economies, helping companies create good-paying jobs across the United States.
Arlington, VA – U.S. Trade and Development Agency Director Enoh T. Ebong will travel to Kenya from April 21-26 to speak at the American Chamber of Commerce Business Summit and sign new USTDA commitments to help expand reliable, high-speed digital connectivity in Kenya and the region in support of the U.S. Digital Transformation with Africa initiative (DTA), co-led by USTDA. She will also connect with USTDA partners and local stakeholders to further USTDA’s programming.
“In Kenya and across the region, USTDA’s diverse portfolio of programming reflects our partners’ priorities, including infrastructure to provide digital connectivity for underserved communities, increase healthcare access and capabilities, and generate clean energy,” said Director Ebong. “USTDA’s model is to bring these projects to life by facilitating partnerships that mobilize financing and deploy U.S. private sector innovation.”
In Nairobi, Director Ebong will open the U.S. DTA pavilion at the American Chamber of Commerce Business Summit along with U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo and U.S. Ambassador to Kenya Meg Whitman. The pavilion will highlight DTA’s promise and progress. Director Ebong will also deliver keynote remarks at the Summit on innovative approaches toward mobilizing sustainable finance for East Africa’s infrastructure priorities.
To build on USTDA’s existing support for DTA, which aims to expand digital access in Africa, Director Ebong will sign two grants to expand high-speed broadband access on the continent. One will support cross-continent infrastructure from East Africa to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to help hundreds of thousands of Africans gain access to affordable broadband for the first time, and the other will address Kenya’s internet affordability gap through fiberoptic and 5G infrastructure between the Kenyan cities of Mombasa and Malaba. Director Ebong will also visit Mawingu Networks Limited to observe how a USTDA-funded feasibility study will support the expansion of the company’s connectivity infrastructure throughout rural and underserved areas in East Africa.
In support of Kenya’s healthcare infrastructure, she will tour two Kenyan hospitals to see cutting-edge technologies and explore opportunities for future USTDA funding support.
Since its inception in 1992, USTDA has funded more than 50 activities to advance Kenya’s agribusiness, clean energy, digital connectivity, healthcare and transportation infrastructure sectors. In 2021, Kenya became a partner of USTDA’s Global Procurement Initiative to help partner countries acquire high-quality, long-lasting technologies, while building smart, sustainable infrastructure with overall savings to their governments.
The Agency’s work in Kenya advances numerous Biden-Harris Administration priorities, including the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment, the U.S. Strategy Toward Sub-Saharan Africa, Prosper Africa, Power Africa and DTA, as well as USTDA’s Global Partnership for Climate Smart Infrastructure and Coalition for Healthcare Infrastructure in Africa. The Agency’s programming also follows through on commitments made at the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit in December 2022.
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The U.S. Trade and Development Agency helps companies create U.S. jobs through the export of U.S. goods and services for priority infrastructure projects in emerging economies. USTDA links U.S. businesses to export opportunities by funding project preparation and partnership building activities that develop sustainable infrastructure and foster economic growth in partner countries.
MEDIA INQUIRIES: Paul Marin | press@ustda.gov
Arlington, VA – This week, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency launched a procurement assistance program under its Global Procurement Initiative (GPI) to advance the development of high-quality public infrastructure in Nepal. In partnership with the Government of Nepal’s Public Procurement Monitoring Office (PPMO), the program commenced with a workshop in Kathmandu focused on implementing more value-based practices within the country’s public procurement system.
“The Government of Nepal is dedicated to implementing international best practices in procurement that will strengthen the quality of its public infrastructure. This will serve its citizens for decades to come,” said Enoh T. Ebong, USTDA’s Director. “Sound procurement principles and robust, transparent public procurement systems are essential to infrastructure development. We embrace this opportunity to partner with Nepal on this priority.”
The workshop included more than 60 Nepali procurement officials from 11 ministries and will be followed by a study tour in fall 2024 to bring leading Nepalese public procurement leaders to the United States to engage with U.S. counterparts. Program content includes training on sustainable procurement, developing technical specifications and establishing value-based evaluation criteria, and how to conduct life-cycle cost analysis. The George Washington University’s Government Procurement Law Program and GPI’s technical experts are carrying out the assistance.
“The PPMO is committed to the professional training of our procurement workforce,” said Bharat Mani Subedi, PPMO’s Secretary. “This workshop will expose procurement officials to international best practices and trends in procurement around the world. It is important for Nepal to learn about these practices and translate what is relevant and applicable in the Nepali context.”
Launched in 2013, USTDA’s GPI trains public officials in emerging markets on how to establish procurement practices and policies that integrate life-cycle cost analysis and best value determination in a fair, transparent manner. GPI helps partner countries acquire high-quality, long-lasting technologies, while building smart, sustainable infrastructure with overall savings to their government. These procurement methods also open markets to greater international competition. GPI leverages the expertise of its institutional partners and collaborators, which include universities, multilateral development banks and government entities.
USTDA’s training program advances U.S. foreign policy priorities including the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment.
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The U.S. Trade and Development Agency helps companies create U.S. jobs through the export of U.S. goods and services for priority infrastructure projects in emerging economies. USTDA links U.S. businesses to export opportunities by funding project preparation and partnership building activities that develop sustainable infrastructure and foster economic growth in partner countries.
MEDIA INQUIRIES: Paul Marin | press@ustda.gov
Arlington, VA – Next week, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency will host a delegation of senior Indonesian officials and decision-makers to support the deployment of smart-city technology in Nusantara, Indonesia’s new capital city now under development to replace Jakarta as the country’s administrative center.
Led by the Nusantara Capital Authority, the delegation includes 18 government representatives involved in the planning, financing, and implementation of Nusantara. The delegation will travel to New York, Houston, Austin and Los Angeles from April 22-May 2 to learn about U.S. smart city technologies, develop business connections, and explore financing and investment opportunities for the new capital. The group will also meet with municipal officials, tour command centers, view technology demonstrations, and gain insight on smart infrastructure applications and approaches from cities in the United States.
The Government of Indonesia has prioritized the deployment of digital technology to increase sustainability, optimize the use of public resources, and improve quality of life for residents. U.S. companies are at the forefront of delivering innovative solutions that can meet these goals. This mission is the latest in a suite of USTDA programming designed to support Indonesia’s efforts to build a world-class new capital city with focus on environmental and economic sustainability, procurement best practices, and cutting-edge technology for successful implementation.
USTDA will host business briefing events in New York City on April 24 and Los Angeles on May 2 for U.S. technology providers, financiers and investors to network with the delegation and hear firsthand about the status of the new capital development, upcoming procurements, and investment opportunities. More information and registration details are available at https://www.ustda.gov/events.
This reverse trade mission supports the U.S. government’s Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment, including the goal of developing, expanding, and deploying secure digital infrastructure to power economic growth and facilitate open digital societies.
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The U.S. Trade and Development Agency helps companies create U.S. jobs through the export of U.S. goods and services for priority infrastructure projects in emerging economies. USTDA links U.S. businesses to export opportunities by funding project preparation and partnership building activities that develop sustainable infrastructure and foster economic growth in partner countries.
MEDIA INQUIRIES: Paul Marin | press@ustda.gov
Arlington, VA – Next week, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) will bring a delegation of senior Malaysian officials to the United States to explore cutting-edge U.S. smart grid and energy distribution technologies to enhance Malaysia’s power grid. The mission will also familiarize the officials with best practices for renewable energy integration, cybersecurity, and storage solutions across the power sector.
While in the United States from April 20 to May 3, the 14-member delegation of government and utility representatives will meet with U.S. power companies and industry involved in the design and manufacturing of smart grid technologies and equipment, including company visits in Washington, DC, Austin, TX, and San Francisco, CA. In Washington, the delegation will participate in a roundtable of government and energy association experts to discuss best practices in developing frameworks for smart grid policy and financing.
USTDA will host a public business briefing in the San Francisco Bay Area on May 1 where U.S. companies can learn about upcoming smart grid and energy distribution commercial opportunities in Malaysia and meet one-on-one with delegates to present innovative technologies and solutions. For more information, please visit https://www.ustda.gov/events/.
The Malaysian government plans to more than double the country’s renewable energy capacity by 2035. To prepare for the transition, the government is investing heavily in smart grid technologies that can help integrate new energy sources into the grid while improving overall efficiency. U.S. companies are leaders in both providing these smart grid solutions and advising on how they can be used most effectively.
The reverse trade mission supports the U.S. government’s Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment to deliver game-changing projects to close the infrastructure gap in developing countries, USTDA’s Global Partnership for Climate-Smart Infrastructure that connects U.S. industry to major clean energy and transportation infrastructure projects in emerging economies, and the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity.
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The U.S. Trade and Development Agency helps companies create U.S. jobs through the export of U.S. goods and services for priority infrastructure projects in emerging economies. USTDA links U.S. businesses to export opportunities by funding project preparation and partnership building activities that develop sustainable infrastructure and foster economic growth in partner countries.
MEDIA INQUIRIES: Paul Marin | press@ustda.gov
Arlington, VA – Next week, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency will host representatives from major Brazilian rail transit organizations and state governments who are leading the procurement of infrastructure to expand and modernize their rail operations to be safer, more efficient, and climate-friendly.
The 10-member delegation will travel to Miami, FL, New York, NY, and Washington, DC from April 14-25. They will tour metro and commuter rail stations and meet with local and federal transportation officials on best practices for rail management. They will also tour a control center and maintenance facility in Miami, meet with U.S. companies offering rail solutions, and participate in a roundtable on financing.
USTDA will host a public business briefing in the Washington, DC, area on April 23, where U.S. companies can hear from the delegation about upcoming projects and business opportunities. Attendees can also meet one-on-one with delegates to present their passenger rail solutions. More information and registration details are available at https://www.ustda.gov/events/.
Ridership in Brazil continues to climb following the COVID-19 pandemic, and state governments are seeking high-quality rail infrastructure that meets increasing passenger demand and reduces greenhouse gas emissions by providing public transport alternatives to private vehicles.
USTDA Director Enoh T. Ebong announced the reverse trade mission during her travel to Brazil in September 2023. It is the latest in a series of USTDA programs to support Brazil’s rail sector, including technical assistance for energy efficiency and enterprise asset management and a feasibility study to optimize the flow of São Paulo’s public rail.
This reverse trade mission supports Biden-Harris Administration priorities, including the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment and USTDA’s Global Partnership for Climate-Smart Infrastructure.
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The U.S. Trade and Development Agency helps companies create U.S. jobs through the export of U.S. goods and services for priority infrastructure projects in emerging economies. USTDA links U.S. businesses to export opportunities by funding project preparation and partnership building activities that develop sustainable infrastructure and foster economic growth in partner countries.
MEDIA INQUIRIES: Paul Marin | press@ustda.gov