Arlington, VA– The U.S. Trade and Development Agency today announced that Todd Abrajano has been named Chief Operating Officer, Head of Agency. In this capacity, he will lead the Agency’s export promotion efforts supporting U.S. jobs and businesses in priority development projects within emerging markets in the agribusiness, energy, healthcare, ICT and transportation sectors. Mr. Abrajano previously served as Deputy Director (Acting), as well as Senior Advisor to the Director of the Agency.
“I’m honored to have the opportunity to lead the U.S. Trade and Development Agency in advancing President Trump’s strategic foreign policy vision and implementing our Agency’s unique dual mandate throughout the globe,” said Abrajano. “Together with USTDA’s incredibly talented professional staff, we will continue to utilize our Agency’s tools to successfully open overseas markets for U.S. goods and services.”
USTDA was previously led by Thomas Hardy who served as the Agency’s Acting Director and has been newly appointed as the Agency’s Director for Program Management. In this role Mr. Hardy will continue to serve on the Agency’s Executive Committee, oversee USTDA’s regional teams and manage the Agency’s global programmatic portfolio of emerging market infrastructure development activities.
“For the past three years, Tom Hardy led USTDA with energy and expertise, and on behalf of the entire staff, I thank Tom for his leadership” said Abrajano. “Tom has been a great friend and mentor, and I am thrilled he will continue to serve in a leadership role within USTDA.”
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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 development 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: Jonathan Wilcox | (703) 875-4357
Arlington, VA – The U.S. Trade and Development Agency has awarded a grant to Abuja-based Konexa for a feasibility study that will evaluate Nigeria’s access to reliable, privately generated renewable electricity. The study will help Konexa enhance electricity distribution for residential, commercial and industrial customers in Kaduna state using U.S. technological solutions.
“This project will support the development of critical energy infrastructure and an innovative business model to improve Nigeria’s electricity generation, transmission and distribution as well as enhance the supply of energy to off-grid customers,” said USTDA’s Acting Director Thomas R. Hardy. “It demonstrates USTDA’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s economic growth while creating opportunities for U.S. companies to develop world-class infrastructure.”
Specifically, USTDA’s grant will help define the technical specifications, project economics and regulatory and legal requirements to develop 2.5 megawatts of solar photovoltaic energy, as well as procure and distribute 30 megawatts of hydroelectricity within the service area. A U.S. company will be selected on a competed basis to carry out the study. USTDA’s partner, Konexa, is a Nigerian entity established to develop viable business models to accelerate energy access in developing countries.
“We are proud to be partnering with USTDA on this innovative project that has the potential to catalyze large scale private sector investment to make the distribution sector in Nigeria financially viable,” said Pradeep Pursnani, Konexa’s CEO.
This project also supports Prosper Africa, a U.S. government initiative to substantially increase two-way trade and investment between the United States and Africa.
U.S. businesses interested in submitting proposals for the USTDA-funded feasibility study should visit www.ustda.gov/work/bid-on-an-overseas-project.
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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 development 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: Jonathan Wilcox | (703) 875-4357
Washington, DC – Today, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency announced the launch of its online Central America Digital Connectivity Workshop Training Series to strengthen the region’s economic resilience through the deployment of innovative U.S. information and communication technology and best practices. Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras will participate in the initiative.
“Expanding digital connectivity is more needed than ever, and the COVID-19 pandemic has reinforced the essential role of ICT infrastructure in mitigating the economic and human toll of the virus,” said Thomas R. Hardy, USTDA’s Acting Director. “By utilizing a virtual platform, we will effectively collaborate and exchange ICT experiences, solutions and lessons learned from our partner countries during this time of crisis.”
The ten-part online workshop training series will explore specific ICT-related topics, including e-government, cybersecurity, digital broadband, emergency and safety technologies, technology procurement and smart city solutions.
The workshop series also aligns with the Administration’s América Crece initiative, which was launched in 2018 and helps to focus U.S. government tools and resources to catalyze private sector investment and growth across Latin America and the Caribbean. USTDA’s worship series will complement efforts by numerous partner agencies across the U.S. government.
Further news regarding the workshop series will be advertised in the coming weeks on USTDA’s website at https://ustda.gov/events/.
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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 development 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: Jonathan Wilcox | (703) 875-4357
Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea – The U.S. Trade and Development Agency has awarded a grant to PNG Power Ltd. that will expand the use of smart grid technologies across Papua New Guinea. USTDA’s grant will fund an implementation plan for an integrated information and communication technology (ICT) platform to strengthen the resilience of the country’s power grid and improve electricity access for the nation’s nine million citizens.
“This grant represents USTDA’s first engagement in Papua New Guinea in 20 years, and at a critical time when the country is seeking to partner with the United States and our Indo-Pacific allies to stimulate economic growth through power sector development,” said Thomas R. Hardy, USTDA’s Acting Director. “USTDA’s grant will leverage our three decades of experience in the sector and create export opportunities for U.S. suppliers of ICT and smart grid technologies.”
The USTDA-funded assistance will develop specifications for deploying a smart metering system and communications network components, which will lead to improved service and reduced electricity losses. USTDA’s grant also supports the Papua New Guinea Electrification Partnership with Australia, Japan, New Zealand and the United States, to achieve enhanced connectivity and connect 70 percent of the country’s population to electricity by 2030.
“The United States is committed to Papua New Guinea’s success and to the PNG Electrification Partnership,” said U.S. Ambassador to Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu Erin McKee. “This project represents an important step toward building PPL’s capacity to achieve the partnership’s goal of providing electricity to 70 percent of Papua New Guineans by 2030.”
“PNG Power welcomes this partnership with the United States through USTDA,” said Douglas Mageo, Acting chief executive officer of PNG Power Ltd. “This will bring world leaders to assist us in the reform and modernization of our electricity systems. In particular the implementation of smart meters and smart networks will improve the reliability of power supply and improve services to our customers.”
This project supports the goals of the United States’ Asia EDGE program, which aims to strengthen energy security and expand energy access throughout the Indo-Pacific. This also aligns with the goals of USTDA’s Memorandum of Cooperation with Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to promote infrastructure development in Pacific Island Countries.
U.S. businesses interested in submitting proposals for the USTDA-funded feasibility study should visit www.ustda.gov/work/bid-on-an-overseas-project.
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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 development 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: Jonathan Wilcox | (703) 875-4357
Arlington, VA – The U.S. Trade and Development Agency has awarded a grant to Nigerian natural gas supply company Green Liquified Natural Gas Limited (GLNG) to support Nigeria’s increased utilization of natural gas for power generation, local industry and additional economic growth.
“This project will support the diversification of Nigeria’s economic development while creating opportunities for U.S. companies to develop world-class infrastructure,” said Thomas R. Hardy, USTDA’s Acting Director. “It will also build upon USTDA’s commitment to working with our partners in Nigeria to develop and expand the country’s natural gas options.”
Specifically, USTDA’s grant will assess the viability of an LNG liquefaction and distribution facility and associated regasification and distribution stations in Southwestern Nigeria. GLNG selected the U.S. company NOVI Energy LLC to conduct the study.
“We are proud to announce our path-breaking LNG project in Nigeria, which will have a significant impact on Nigeria’s goal of pursuing a sustainable, environmentally friendly, alternate fuel-based economy,” said Mr. Anil Ahluwalia, Director of GLNG.
GLNG has been in discussions with Nigerian financial guarantor InfraCredit to support the project. “We are pleased to have established this strategic relationship with USTDA. By providing project preparatory assistance to our client projects like GLNG, USTDA is helping develop bankable infrastructure projects in Nigeria, which will expand the market for much needed good quality projects that can access long term domestic credit with InfraCredit’s local currency guarantees,” said Chinua Azubike, Chief Executive Officer of InfraCredit.
This project supports the U.S. government’s Prosper Africa, Power Africa and Doing Business in Africa Initiatives.
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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 development 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: Jonathan Wilcox | (703) 875-4357
