USTDA achieves its mission by funding feasibility studies, technical assistance and pilot projects that integrate U.S. private sector innovation into infrastructure projects at the critical early stages when design choices and technology options are determined. The Agency also connects U.S. industry with overseas project sponsors through its reverse trade missions, industry conferences and expert workshops.
Arlington, VA – The U.S. Trade and Development Agency is increasing U.S. access to critical minerals used for a wide range of applications that are critical to American commercial and defense interests. USTDA awarded funding to Metalex Africa Zambia Limited (Metalex), a subsidiary of Texas-based Metalex Commodities Inc., for a feasibility study to accelerate the expansion of a Zambian facility that extracts and processes copper and cobalt. The project will diversify U.S. supply chains to access these critical minerals. USTDA and Metalex announced their partnership in a ceremony that was held on Capitol Hill and witnessed by U.S. Senator Ted Cruz.
“USTDA’s partnership with Metalex will help ensure that U.S. industries can reliably access the inputs they need to remain secure, competitive, and prepared to meet the challenges of the future,” said Thomas R. Hardy, USTDA’s Acting Director. “By leveraging U.S. technology and expertise, this project will help expand Zambia’s mining sector, advancing responsible resource development to benefit both our nations.”
USTDA’s assistance will support Metalex’s plans to expand its extraction and refining operations at the Kazozu mine. This effort includes a comprehensive study to evaluate the potential for producing up to 25,000 additional metric tons of copper and cobalt concentrates each year. These critical minerals are essential for technologies like semiconductors, fiber optic networks, energy systems, and batteries, as well as applications in the aerospace and defense industries. By connecting Metalex with U.S. buyers, the study will help strengthen supply chains for these vital industries. The project also creates opportunities for U.S. companies to supply materials and equipment for the plant’s expansion.
USTDA-funded programming is carried out by U.S. companies. Businesses interested in submitting proposals for the feasibility study should visit www.ustda.gov/work/bid-on-an-overseas-project.
CEO of Metalex Commodities Ayo Sopitan said: “This grant from USTDA is a significant milestone for our project in Zambia, which will produce copper and cobalt destined for U.S. offtake. The grant will help us expand our current resource, define project phases as well as establish the feasibility of project expansion. Metalex is a U.S.-based producer of carbon-neutral critical metals with its flagship project being the Kazozu Copper-Cobalt mine, a project done in partnership with Zambian mining junior, Terra Metals.”
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The U.S. Trade and Development Agency strengthens U.S. national security by developing overseas infrastructure projects that make America safer, stronger and more prosperous. USTDA is the starting point for critical infrastructure. By funding the upfront work that sets projects in motion, the Agency accelerates the deployment of trusted U.S. technology to advance the shared priorities of the United States and its overseas partners.
MEDIA INQUIRIES: Paul Marin | press@ustda.gov
Arlington, VA – The U.S. Trade and Development Agency is supporting the security of international data communications by funding a feasibility study to extend the Medusa Submarine Cable System to Africa’s Atlantic Coastline, increasing digital access for hundreds of millions of people in up to 22 African countries. In a signing ceremony held on Capitol Hill, USTDA and AFR-IX Telecom (AFR-IX), an infrastructure and telecommunications operator focused on digital infrastructure in Africa, announced their collaboration on the project, which will enhance data security and privacy, counter efforts by malign global actors to compromise critical infrastructure, and strengthen long-term digital partnerships with the United States.
“Subsea cables are the foundation for Africa’s digital future. Secure, reliable digital infrastructure provides the essential bandwidth and foundation to enable widespread use of a new generation of technologies like AI, quantum computing, and 6G solutions. These are all areas where U.S. companies provide trusted solutions and where USTDA is focusing its attention,” said Thomas R. Hardy, USTDA’s Acting Director. “USTDA’s involvement in this project will help secure it against untrusted infrastructure providers that could manipulate markets, intercept data, and conduct surveillance to the detriment of the United States and our African partners.”
This USTDA-funded assistance will assess the technical and commercial viability of extending the Medusa subsea fiberoptic cable from the Mediterranean Sea to Africa’s Atlantic coastline. It will leverage U.S. expertise to recommend U.S. standards and alternatives to untrusted infrastructure suppliers, advancing shared priorities for secure and standards-based connectivity while generating opportunities to deploy U.S. solutions to the project. By providing high-speed access, the cable will also facilitate essential services like cloud computing, government communications, and financial transactions.
USTDA-funded programming is carried out by U.S. companies. Businesses interested in submitting proposals for the feasibility study should visit www.ustda.gov/work/bid-on-an-overseas-project.
Norman Albi, CEO of AFR-IX and Medusa Africa Submarine Cable System said: “The Medusa Africa Submarine Cable System will be transformational for digital connectivity along Africa’s Atlantic coast, creating new opportunities for innovation, commerce and social inclusion in the region. USTDA’s support is truly catalytic — turning an ambitious vision into a bankable project and accelerating the partnerships needed to bring it to life. At Medusa, we are proud to receive USTDA’s support, which underscores the importance of adding the United States as a partner to Medusa Africa.”
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The U.S. Trade and Development Agency strengthens U.S. national security by developing overseas infrastructure projects that make America safer, stronger and more prosperous. USTDA is the starting point for critical infrastructure. By funding the upfront work that sets projects in motion, the Agency accelerates the deployment of trusted U.S. technology to advance the shared priorities of the United States and its overseas partners.
MEDIA INQUIRIES: Paul Marin | press@ustda.gov
Arlington, VA – The U.S. Trade and Development Agency is deepening its strategic partnership with the Philippines by supporting the development of a railway project along the Luzon Economic Corridor. Today, the Agency announced funding for technical assistance to develop the Subic-Clark-Manila-Batangas (SCMB) Railway, a proposed 132-mile line connecting three of the Philippines’ most critical ports, including Subic Bay. The railway is envisioned to be the backbone of the Luzon Economic Corridor, which will accelerate critical infrastructure investment and drive economic transformation in the Philippines.
“This project underscores the U.S.-Philippines alliance’s vital role in maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific region. By supporting the development of the SCMB Railway, we are ensuring that key infrastructure will flourish, increasing economic cooperation to develop an essential trading route that will mutually benefit American and Philippine citizens,” said Thomas R. Hardy, USTDA’s Acting Director. “Our partnership with the Philippines exemplifies the strength of American leadership in the Indo-Pacific and underscores our commitment to advancing our shared interests.”
USTDA is partnering with the Philippines’ Department of Transportation (DOTr) to provide U.S. technical expertise related to transportation modeling, port-rail integration analysis, and legal and institutional planning. This project preparation work will help mobilize financing for the railway’s implementation by addressing Asian Development Bank lending requirements. The SCMB Railway will also generate significant U.S. export opportunities, particularly by providing secure high-tech rail technologies, equipment, and services. Virginia-based The Cadmus Group LLC will conduct the assistance.
The SCMB Railway will also decentralize port activity, ease freight congestion, and enable potential passenger services in the future. The project complements broader efforts under the Luzon Economic Corridor to enhance connectivity and economic resilience across key logistics hubs, alongside contributions from regional allies and partners like Japan.
Philippine Secretary of Transportation Vince Dizon said: “The Subic-Clark-Manila-Batangas Railway is a transformative project that will modernize our logistics infrastructure, decongest Metro Manila, and stimulate economic growth in the Philippines. We appreciate USTDA’s support in advancing this critical initiative, which exemplifies the strong cooperation between the Philippines and the United States in developing high-impact infrastructure and preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region.”
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The U.S. Trade and Development Agency strengthens U.S. national security by developing overseas infrastructure projects that make America safer, stronger and more prosperous. USTDA is the starting point for critical infrastructure. By funding the upfront work that sets projects in motion, the Agency accelerates the deployment of trusted U.S. technology to advance the shared priorities of the United States and its overseas partners.
MEDIA INQUIRIES: Paul Marin | press@ustda.gov
