USTDA generates an average of $231 in U.S. exports for every dollar it programs. Since its inception, the Agency has supported more than $120 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 announced that it has awarded a feasibility study grant to Burundi-based Weza Power SURL (Weza Power) to help develop a rural electric utility with the capacity to connect nine million people to the national grid. Weza Power selected Washington, D.C.-based non-profit NRECA International to conduct the study.
“This project will have a transformative impact on rural communities across Burundi, providing access to reliable electricity for students, families, and business owners,” said Enoh T. Ebong, USTDA’s Director. “USTDA’s partnership with Weza Power is a critical component of the U.S. government’s coordinated effort to meet Burundi’s power sector goals. Our Agency’s work will enhance the project’s bankability while creating opportunities for U.S. companies to deploy their technology for its implementation.”
Access to electricity in Burundi is less than 2% for rural communities and 11% nationally; full implementation of the project is expected to increase access to 70% and 76%, respectively. The USTDA-funded study will help lay the groundwork for the creation of the utility and recommend pathways for unlocking additional financing and deploying innovative U.S.-made technologies and services. By adding a U.S. commercial nexus to the project, USTDA’s work will complement development assistance provided by the U.S. Agency for International Development, Development Finance Corporation, and U.S. government-led Power Africa initiative.
“We are thrilled to be partnering with USTDA on detailed technical studies for Weza Power,” said Brian Kelly, founder and CEO of Ananza Electric Group, the parent company of Weza Power. “USTDA’s support combined with the technical and operational planning expertise of NRECA International will be instrumental in our mission of developing, building, and operating a sustainable, reliable and affordable power grid to serve rural Burundians.”
“These agreements, and the cooperative efforts to provide electricity to all Burundians, represents another U.S. investment in the future of this country. With an expanded national grid, and increased power supplies, electricity will reach the rural communities. Every single Burundian will someday benefit from the impact of these projects,” said U.S. Ambassador to Burundi Lisa Peterson.
The project will support the U.S. government’s Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment; Prosper Africa; Power Africa, which aims to increase energy access on the continent; and USTDA’s Global Partnership for Climate-Smart Infrastructure.
###
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 will bring a delegation of Nigerian oil and gas industry decision-makers to the United States to build partnerships that will support Nigeria’s climate goals by accelerating the deployment of methane detection and abatement technology.
While in the United States from October 20-30, the 17-member delegation of private sector and government representatives will travel to Washington, D.C.; Pittsburgh, PA; Midland-Odessa, TX; and Houston to meet U.S. companies, connect with federal and state policymakers, and see demonstrations of cutting-edge U.S. technologies. In Washington, the delegation will also engage with financial institutions to discuss mobilizing capital for their infrastructure priorities.
USTDA will host a public business briefing in Houston on October 29 where U.S. companies can learn about upcoming commercial opportunities from the delegation and meet one-on-one with delegates to present their innovative methane abatement and flare gas utilization solutions. For more information, please visit https://www.ustda.gov/events/.
The U.S. private sector is at the forefront of methane abatement and flare gas solutions, and there is worldwide consensus that reducing methane gas emissions is the fastest way to slow the pace of global warming. Nigeria is one of 158 country signatories to the Global Methane Pledge to reduce global methane emissions. While Nigeria has reduced natural gas flaring by more than 70% since 2000, the country remains the seventh highest natural gas-flaring country in the world, according to the World Bank. Nigeria is eager to acquire new technologies and solutions to accelerate progress towards its emissions reduction goals.
USTDA’s reverse trade mission is one of a series of methane abatement visits that have included delegates from Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Egypt, Libya and Mexico. These visits have focused on a wide array of methane abatement solutions, including methane leak detection and repair, fugitive emission measurement, tracking and abatement, and flare gas utilization solutions.
These reverse trade missions support 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; the U.S. Department of Energy’s Net-Zero World Initiative; Prosper Africa; and the U.S. Strategy Toward Sub-Saharan Africa.
###
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 a continuation of last year’s record-breaking results, generating an average of $231 in U.S. exports for every dollar programmed to facilitate infrastructure development in emerging economies. In fiscal year 2024, new U.S. exports identified by USTDA brought the Agency’s total to $120 billion of exports associated with the projects it has supported since its inception as an independent agency in 1992.
“USTDA’s unique mandate allows us to generate tremendous economic return on investment for U.S. taxpayers while delivering on the infrastructure priorities of our partners overseas,” said Enoh T. Ebong, USTDA’s Director. “As the U.S. government’s overseas project preparation agency, we bring decades of experience to furthering projects that lead to high-quality, sustainable infrastructure using solutions made in America.”
USTDA quantitatively measures its results using an “export multiplier.” This ratio, which stands at 231 to 1, represents the average value of U.S. exports that the Agency supports for every Congressionally appropriated dollar that it programs. Given the length of time that it takes for infrastructure projects to move from project preparation to implementation and exports, USTDA calculates its multiplier based on a ten-year rolling average. The current export multiplier is based on USTDA activities that were completed from January 1, 2012, through December 31, 2021.
USTDA also evaluates the potential and realized development outcomes of its activities in areas including infrastructure development and efficiency gains, human capacity building, promoting effective markets and governance, promoting safety and security, and promoting environmental benefit.
For over 30 years, USTDA has employed a rigorous monitoring and evaluation process that measures project-specific data on an ongoing basis, allowing a true and consistent understanding of USTDA’s overall programming effectiveness. This process ensures that a credible and significant link exists between USTDA-funded activities and the exports it has facilitated. These efforts inform both the design of new activities and USTDA’s strategic planning, as well as increase the likelihood of U.S. exports and development outcomes associated with USTDA’s funding.
USTDA’s work advances the objectives of key foreign policy priorities such as the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGI), to deliver game-changing projects to close the infrastructure gap in developing countries.
###
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 (USTDA) announced it has awarded a feasibility study grant to Bangladesh prepared foods and cold chain services company Bonton Foods Limited (Bonton Foods) to support the deployment of a temperature-controlled logistics network of cold storage refrigeration warehouses in Bangladesh. The study’s goal is to lower costs and reduce losses of dairy, meat, and other food products, resulting in improved food security for people across the country. Bonton Foods selected Minnesota-based Land O’Lakes Venture37 to conduct the study.
“Facilitating private sector investment is vital to Bangladesh’s food security goals. Our partnership with Bonton Foods will help mobilize capital and deploy innovative solutions that address the needs of Bangladesh’s people,” said Enoh T. Ebong, USTDA’s Director. “We look forward to demonstrating the positive role that U.S. technology can play in unlocking greater access to fresh foods.”
While Bangladesh has 2.7 million metric tons of cold storage refrigeration capacity across over 300 sites, the country’s current cold chain industry cannot meet demand, particularly in rural areas. As a result, animal proteins and produce are handled primarily via wet markets with little to no mechanical refrigeration support, which can lead to food spoilage and loss. The USTDA-funded study will address these challenges by facilitating the construction of an integrated network of third-party logistics cold storage facilities across Bangladesh.
Shamim Ahamed, Managing Director of Bonton Foods, said: “The country’s large population—20 million people in greater Dhaka alone—a growing upper and middle-class, and changing consumer patterns signal a bright future for the cold chain industry, and we are keen to leverage our position in the market by expanding third-party logistics services to small and medium-sized agribusinesses as well as international food importers and exporters.”
“The lack of appropriate temperature-controlled logistics in Bangladesh results in post-harvest losses, affects food safety, and limits trade in agricultural and consumer products,” said Chargé d’Affaires of U.S. Embassy Dhaka, Helen LaFave. “Cold chain infrastructure would enable Bangladeshi agricultural producers to diversify export opportunities by ensuring the safety and quality of their agricultural products. This feasibility study will identify opportunities for increased U.S. investment in cold chain, which would create a stable logistics network for refrigerated and frozen U.S. products that meet the consumer demands of the rapidly growing Bangladesh middle class.”
USTDA’s study advances the goals of Biden-Harris Administration priorities such as the Feed the Future initiative.
###
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 – From October 8-10, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency will host a delegation of leaders from the United States and nearly 20 European and Eurasian countries in Knoxville, TN, for an event focused on the safe and efficient deployment of the latest nuclear energy technologies. Organized in cooperation with Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the Civil Nuclear Energy Workshop: Partnering for Implementation will highlight innovative U.S. technologies that are revolutionizing the sector.
“USTDA has played a leading role in the development of advanced nuclear energy projects in Europe that will use U.S. technology,” said Enoh T. Ebong, USTDA’s Director. “It is essential for public and private sector leaders to convene and share information that will facilitate the safe and efficient deployment of these projects. Our goal is to advance our partners’ clean energy and energy security objectives while promoting the benefits of partnering with U.S. industry.”
Civil nuclear energy plays a critical role in achieving global energy security needs. Countries in Europe and Eurasia are taking steps to deploy innovative nuclear technologies to meet their net-zero commitments. At the same time, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has reinforced the importance of a diverse energy mix to ensure their energy security.
Through this event, high-level industry leaders, decision makers and senior government officials from nearly 20 countries and the United States will share best practices and recent developments regarding technical, operational, and regulatory practices throughout the civil nuclear energy value chain.
More information, including the agenda and list of participants, is available at https://www.nuclearworkshops.com.
MEDIA:
In person: Remarks will be open to the press on October 8 from 8:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. and on October 9 from 9:00 to 9:15 a.m.; all other sessions will be closed. The event will be held at the Knoxville Convention Center.
Virtual: USTDA Director Ebong will be available to the media virtually on October 8 at 10:00 a.m.
To attend the workshop or to join the media availability, please email press@ustda.gov. Media registration closes on Monday, October 7, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. EST.
###
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