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 – Today, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency signed a grant agreement with pan-African technology company, CSquared Link Holdings (Mauritius) Ltd (CSquared) for a feasibility study to help hundreds of thousands of Africans gain access to affordable broadband for the first time through the development of an open-access cross-continental fiber optic backbone. U.S. Secretary of Commerce, Gina Raimondo, witnessed USTDA’s grant signing ceremony at the 2024 American Chamber of Commerce Business Summit in Nairobi, Kenya.
“USTDA is partnering with CSquared to develop Africa’s first open-access trans-continental digital infrastructure, which will empower inland African communities by connecting them to the digital economy,” said Enoh T. Ebong, USTDA’s Director. “The grant also stands as a testament to USTDA’s proactive role in advancing the Biden-Harris Administration’s Digital Transformation with Africa initiative while creating new opportunities for U.S. solutions to address African digital priorities.”
The USTDA-funded study will include an assessment of potential fiber backbone routes through the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. The study will also assess expanding fiber network infrastructure along the backbone and extending last-mile connections to towers, businesses and homes. The project will help expand affordable, high-capacity broadband to inland African communities.
“For the continent’s development as a whole, it is essential to bridge the digital divide. CSquared has a vision to digitally connect Africa and make connectivity more accessible and more affordable,” said CSquared Group Chief Financial Officer Eddie Irungu. “USTDA has been proactively instrumental in providing this feasibility study grant. The project is to build a cross-continental open-access backbone highway, with metro and last mile networks subsequently built along the way. This is very promising as it would be the first of its kind to provide landlocked areas with open access to affordable connectivity to subsea cables on both sides of the continent.”
“Digital access is transforming the economic landscape in Kenya and across Africa by opening new opportunities for businesses, workers and entrepreneurs. We are excited to partner with Kenya to provide affordable and accessible internet to more communities,” said U.S. Ambassador to Kenya Meg Whitman.
U.S. businesses interested in submitting proposals for the USTDA-funded feasibility study should visit www.ustda.gov/work/bid-on-an-overseas-project.
USTDA’s assistance advances Biden-Harris Administration priorities, including the Digital Transformation with Africa initiative for expanded access to an open, interoperable, reliable, and secure internet; Prosper Africa; and the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment. USTDA’s programming also follows through on commitments made at the December 2022 U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit.
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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 – Today, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency signed a grant agreement with Kenyan telecommunications company Wilken Group Ltd (Wilken Group) for a feasibility study to address Kenya’s internet affordability gap through the development of new fiber optic and 5G infrastructure between Mombasa and Malaba. U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo witnessed USTDA’s grant signing ceremony at the 2024 American Chamber of Commerce Business Summit in Nairobi, Kenya.
“Our partnership with the Wilken Group will help address the growing demand for secure, affordable, high-quality internet connectivity that can catalyze economic growth,” said Enoh T. Ebong, USTDA’s Director. “USTDA support for this project opens another gateway for U.S. companies to actively participate in East Africa’s burgeoning digital infrastructure markets.”
The USTDA-funded study will assess the construction of a wholesale open access fiber optic network and a series of 5G-capable towers across approximately 730 miles (1,170 km) of railway between the cities of Mombasa and Malaba, where future demand for fiber connectivity is projected to outstrip the capacity of existing infrastructure.
“USTDA’s grant funding will significantly enhance the importance of the project by validating capacity demand and measuring project impact nationally,” said Graham Shaw, Wilken Group Chief Executive Officer. “The grant will support the Government of Kenya’s mandate to focus on enhancing the digital space.”
“Reliable connectivity is critical to economic prosperity in Africa. This USTDA grant demonstrates the United States’ commitment to partnering with Kenya to create digital infrastructure that will empower Kenyans,” said U.S. Ambassador to Kenya Meg Whitman.
U.S. businesses interested in submitting proposals for the USTDA-funded feasibility study should visit www.ustda.gov/work/bid-on-an-overseas-project.
USTDA’s assistance advances Biden-Harris Administration priorities, including the Digital Transformation with Africa initiative to expand digital access on the continent, Prosper Africa, and the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment. USTDA’s programming also follows through on commitments made at the December 2022 U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit.
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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 – On the occasion of Earth Day, U.S. Trade and Development Agency Director Enoh T. Ebong reaffirmed USTDA’s commitment to safeguarding our environment by supporting the development of green infrastructure in emerging economies around the world. She also celebrated the three-year anniversary of the Agency’s flagship Global Partnership for Climate-Smart Infrastructure (Global Climate Partnership).
“Through the Global Climate Partnership, USTDA has funded more than 80 activities in pursuit of a greener future for the energy and transportation sectors. U.S. companies are very competitive in low-emissions climate-resilient infrastructure innovations, and USTDA’s programming promotes their deployment to emerging economies that are seeking climate solutions,” said Director Ebong. “We deploy our full set of capabilities to advance sustainable infrastructure in pursuit of net-zero emissions, sustainable development, and energy security. Our authority to pilot U.S. technologies overseas also allows USTDA to help catalyze financing and replication of promising technologies.”
USTDA’s diverse climate mitigation portfolio of project preparation and partnership-building activities advances global commitments to reduce methane emissions, triple renewable energy capacity by 2030 and triple nuclear power capacity by 2050.
- Methane Abatement Technologies: There is global consensus that reducing methane emissions is the fastest way to slow the pace of global climate change. Methane abatement technologies advance climate and energy security goals while monetizing an otherwise wasted energy source. Among other projects in the pipeline, USTDA has funded a series of reverse trade missions to connect energy sector leaders in 15 countries to U.S. companies that are ready to assist in tackling this challenge.
- Renewable-Plus-Storage Solutions: Renewable energy sources coupled with battery storage technology provide affordable access to clean, reliable and flexible power in communities that lack connection to a national power grid, creating an alternative to diesel and other fossil fuel sources. USTDA supports these weather-resistant “renewable-plus-storage” projects around the world, including projects in the Dominican Republic, Fiji, Indonesia, St. Lucia, and Zambia.
- Civil Nuclear Energy: USTDA is at the forefront of supporting our partners to develop frameworks for nuclear energy deployment and to advance individual infrastructure needs, including through small modular and other advanced nuclear reactors. USTDA’s recent portfolio of nuclear energy-related activities supports deployment of these effectively zero-emissions energy sources. In Poland and Romania, USTDA’s assistance led to the selection of U.S. technology for pioneering nuclear energy projects.
- Piloting U.S. Innovation: USTDA funds overseas pilot projects of U.S. technology, including advanced geothermal energy, ocean thermal energy conversion, and machine learning in electric grid management. Pilot projects can facilitate financing, scaling and replication across countries and regions.
USTDA is also investing in programming to support the President’s Emergency Plan for Adaptation and Resilience (PREPARE) initiative including through activities that enhance disaster preparedness, prepare for emergency response, and increase resilience in electrical grids and water systems in the face of unprecedented climate stresses. A whole-of-government initiative, PREPARE aims to help more than half a billion people in developing countries adapt to and manage climate change impacts.
The Agency’s climate and environment work also advances the U.S. government’s Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment, supports the United States’ commitment to progress on the Global Methane Pledge, and contributes to the fulfillment of commitments at COP28. USTDA is also a partner in the Net Zero World initiative.
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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 – 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