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 awarded a technical assistance grant to the Tocantins State Information Technology Agency (Agência de Tecnologia da Informação) in Brazil to help advance modern digital infrastructure, connectivity, and e-government services across one of the country’s fastest-growing states.
“USTDA is proud to partner with the state of Tocantins to further advance connectivity and e-government across the state through the deployment of modern digital technologies and services,” said Enoh T. Ebong, USTDA’s Director. “U.S. companies are recognized leaders in this space and are well positioned to deliver on the state’s objectives of furthering connectivity and cybersecurity for its citizens.”
USTDA’s technical assistance will develop a roadmap in support of the state’s efforts to modernize and expand its digital infrastructure to ensure faster and more reliable data processing, connectivity, storage and cybersecurity across the state. It will also support the state’s efforts to boost e-government services through the use of cloud computing, analytics and artificial intelligence.
Alirio Felix, President of ATI Tocantins, said: “This grant agreement is a significant milestone in the digital transformation process of Tocantins. With the investment provided by this partnership, we will be able to further accelerate the modernization of our public services, making them more accessible, efficient and innovative for the entire population. This step reinforces our commitment to placing Tocantins at the forefront of technology and digital governance, and demonstrates the confidence that great nations, such as the United States, have in our ability to lead this transformation.”
Nicole DeSilvis, Minister Counselor for Commercial Affairs at the U.S. Commercial Service, said: “This is a significant milestone in our already excellent partnership with the state of Tocantins. Our support will contribute to the modernization of the state’s technological capabilities, improving connectivity, data processing and cybersecurity, enabling the use of cloud computing and artificial intelligence in government services.”
U.S. businesses interested in submitting proposals for the USTDA-funded technical assistance should visit www.ustda.gov/work/bid-on-an-overseas-project.
The grant advances Biden-Harris Administration priorities including the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment to deliver game-changing projects to close the infrastructure gap in developing countries and the Digital Connectivity and Cybersecurity Partnership (DCCP).
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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 – The U.S. Trade and Development Agency is hosting a delegation of Nepali public procurement officials through August 30 as part of an ongoing partnership to support Nepal’s development of high-quality, resilient infrastructure. The study tour is the latest component of Nepal’s comprehensive procurement assistance program under USTDA’s Global Procurement Initiative (GPI). The study tour will focus on international best practices for obtaining the best value in government procurement.
While in the United States, the 16-member delegation will travel to Washington, DC; Richmond, VA; Baltimore and Boston for meetings with federal, state and local government procurement counterparts, multilateral organizations, U.S. private sector organizations, and academia. USTDA will also host trainings tailored to Nepal’s self-identified needs.
The study tour follows a GPI sponsored three-day workshop held in Kathmandu in April 2024 that trained more than 60 Nepali procurement officials from 11 ministries on sustainable procurement, developing technical specifications and establishing value-based evaluation criteria, and how to conduct life-cycle cost analysis.
Launched in 2013, USTDA’s GPI trains public officials in emerging economies on how to establish procurement practices and policies that integrate life-cycle cost analysis and best value determination in a fair and 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.
The study tour supports U.S. government 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 – USTDA Director Enoh T. Ebong will lead a roadshow to four U.S. cities to raise awareness of how the Agency supports U.S. jobs through exports to the infrastructure projects that it develops in emerging economies. The roadshow, held under the umbrella of USTDA’s Making Global Local initiative, will showcase how USTDA carries out its mission and generates results for U.S. companies in communities across the country.
“USTDA creates opportunities for American businesses to deploy their expertise and innovation to some of the most exciting infrastructure projects in emerging economies,” said Enoh T. Ebong, USTDA’s Director. “Each stop of our roadshow will profile how USTDA works with U.S. companies in a specific sector, including clean energy, transportation, digital, and healthcare infrastructure. Our program benefits U.S. companies of all sizes, and this roadshow will highlight how we partner with them to generate measurable results at home and abroad.”
Director Ebong will travel to Wisconsin and Arizona from August 5-8, where the roadshow will focus on healthcare infrastructure and clean energy, respectively. In early September she will travel to New Hampshire and Illinois for events focused on digital infrastructure and transportation. Her program will include tours of U.S. facilities that manufacture cutting-edge infrastructure technologies, meetings with USTDA partners and diaspora communities, and public engagements.
The roadshow will also highlight USTDA’s consistent success as an organization. On average, USTDA now facilitates $231 in U.S. exports for every appropriated dollar it programs. Since its inception in 1992, USTDA has facilitated more than $119 billion in U.S. exports to the infrastructure projects it has supported, including from small businesses in more than 370 communities across the United States. The roadshow will center on USTDA’s focus sectors of clean energy, transportation, healthcare and digital 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
Arlington, VA – Today, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency awarded a technical assistance grant to Jamaica’s National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) to expand access to clean water across Jamaica. USTDA’s assistance will support deployment of reverse osmosis technology that transforms seawater into water that is potable and suitable for commercial and industrial uses.
“As rising global temperatures and climate change impact the availability of clean water across the globe, it is critical to identify alternative sustainable water solutions. Reverse osmosis technology offers an innovative solution for greater water access,” said Enoh T. Ebong, USTDA’s Director. “USTDA’s partnership with NEPA will be instrumental in helping Jamaica meet its most pressing need for fresh water, while opening opportunities for U.S. technologies that adhere to the highest standards of environmental safety.”
USTDA’s assistance will facilitate the implementation of water treatment systems in Jamaica that are environmentally responsible and reduce impact on groundwater and marine life. This is crucial for Jamaica’s growing manufacturing and hotel industries and promoting economic growth while safeguarding natural resources.
NEPA CEO Leonard Francis expressed gratitude for USTDA’s assistance while emphasizing the inextricable link between environmental responsibility and sustainable development. According to Mr. Francis, “the National Environment and Planning Agency is invested in responsible development in allowing the citizenry to live in harmony with nature while aiming to secure a future for our children. This study, which is being undertaken on a number of approved reverse osmosis plants, is aimed at ensuring that we protect our marine resources whilst pursuing alternative sources of potable water in support of varying development initiatives. The study will inform the required standards, guidelines and regulations for their proper management and operation.”
“I was proud to work with USTDA on this important initiative to bring the Jamaican people enhanced access to clean water that is critical to personal health, economic development and prosperity,” said U.S. Ambassador to Jamaica N. Nick Perry. “This will make our strong bilateral friendship and relationship even deeper and help achieve Jamaica’s goal of becoming a more safe, secure, and prosperous nation.”
USTDA’s assistance underscores the U.S. government’s commitment to environmental sustainability and climate change adaptation. This project supports several critical Biden Administration priorities including the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment, the President’s Emergency Plan for Adaptation and Resilience and the U.S.-Caribbean Partnership to Address the Climate Crisis 2030.
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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 announced that it has awarded a grant to Malawi-based Mzuzu WF Limited (Mzuzu WF) for a feasibility study to establish a 50-megawatt wind energy generation facility and an accompanying battery energy storage system (“BESS”) in Malawi. The project will contribute reliable clean energy to stabilize the national energy grid, buffer Malawi against climate change impacts, and make energy more affordable for Malawi’s citizens.
“Our partnership with Mzuzu WF serves as the latest example of USTDA’s commitment to sponsoring renewable energy projects in Africa, delivering clean, affordable energy to the citizens of Malawi,” said Enoh T. Ebong, USTDA’s Director. “The facility represents one of the country’s first utility-scale wind farms and will generate opportunities for U.S. suppliers to provide high-tech clean energy solutions.”
With Malawi’s energy demand projected to as much as triple by 2030, introducing new sources of energy will be paramount to providing affordable access to electricity both today and in the future. The USTDA-funded study will support the development of the facility and BESS, which will help stabilize the grid against climate-related shocks and reduce reliance on expensive diesel generators as a source of emergency power. The facility will be located near the city of Mzuzu in northern Malawi.
Mzuzu WF is a subsidiary of renewable energy development company JCM Power Corporation, which manages a solar power plant in the Golomoti region of Malawi that was developed using a USTDA-funded feasibility study grant. The power plant, which uses U.S. technology, is the first utility-scale grid-connected battery energy storage system in sub-Saharan Africa, providing reliable, clean power to the people of Malawi.
CEO of JCM Power Corporation, Jon Bahen, said: “Building on the successful development and execution of the Golomoti Solar PV project, JCM Power is excited to partner with USTDA again, to progress the development of impactful renewable energy projects in Malawi. The development of clean, sustainable and affordable renewable energy projects will remain a pillar for economic growth for Malawi, in line with vision 2063, and we believe that progressing the development of the Mzuzu wind energy project will result in significant positive impacts for the nation and the communities in the Mzimba district. We extend our gratitude to USTDA for their continued support and look forward to the success of another transformative project.”
Chargé d’affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Malawi, Amy Diaz, said: “The U.S. has continually invested in enhancing energy infrastructure and access in Malawi because we recognize the critical role that energy plays in driving economic growth and improving quality of life. These collaborations are not only helping to meet the immediate energy needs of Malawi but are also laying the groundwork for long-term energy security and environmental sustainability for communities across the country. The U.S. government is proud to support Malawi in its journey towards a brighter and more prosperous future, powered by clean and accessible energy. This grant demonstrates our continued commitment to energy investment and underscores the strong and enduring partnership between the United States and Malawi, built on mutual respect and a shared vision for the future.”
U.S. businesses interested in submitting proposals for the USTDA-funded feasibility study should visit www.ustda.gov/work/bid-on-an-overseas-project.
The project will support the U.S. government’s Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment; Prosper Africa, which fosters economic engagement between the United States and Africa; Power Africa, which aims to increase energy access on the continent; 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
