Federal Government Shutdown

AFRICA: U.S. Support for Critical Minerals Projects in Sub-Saharan Africa

Sunday, February 8, 2026 | 3:00 PM – 8:00 p.m. | Cape Town, South Africa

This high-level, half-day conference will convene U.S. companies, African government officials, and project developers on the eve of Mining Indaba 2026. The program will provide actionable insights on critical mineral project pipelines, regulatory frameworks, and U.S. government financing tools, with speakers from the U.S. Department of Commerce, USTDA leadership, U.S. Embassies, and ministries from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mozambique, and Namibia. The event concludes with a networking reception to support deal-making and follow-on engagement during Indaba.

Visit the event website to learn more and to register.

The U.S. Trade and Development Agency is hosting a delegation of decision-makers from the Philippines as part of the U.S.-Philippines Smart Grid Technologies Reverse Trade Mission. The RTM will introduce public and private sector leaders from the Philippines to U.S. entities engaged in developing and deploying smart grid technology solutions and services; advancing and implementing policies and best practices; and providing alternative financing mechanisms.

As part of the RTM, U.S. public and private sector entities will have the opportunity to meet the delegation at DISTRIBUTECH in San Diego, CA, and to host site visits and private meetings with the delegation in Silicon Valley, CA, and Washington, DC.

Electricity demand in the Philippines is expected to double by 2040, necessitating strong investment in the country’s smart grid infrastructure. As a leading developer and deployer of smart grid technologies and services, the U.S. private sector is well-positioned to become a leading partner to the Philippines’ distribution utilities and regulators as they modernize, digitalize and strengthen the grid infrastructure.

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES:

The delegation is interested in procuring products, technology, and services in the following areas:

• Advanced Distribution Management System (ADMS)
• Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI)
• Cybersecurity and Artificial Intelligence
• Data Centers
• Distribution Automation
• Energy Stability Solutions
• Hyperscale Energy Corridors
• Liquid Natural Gas (LNG)
• Nuclear Energy
• Small Nuclear Reactors (SMRs)
• Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Systems
• Transmission System Transformation

For inquiries, please email BCIU’s Gaetan-Nicolas Bernimolin at gbernimolin@bciu.org and Fraser Leckie at fleckie@bciu.org.

View the business briefing flyer below for more details and visit the RTM website to register for a meeting.