In 2021 every $1 USTDA invested in its programs generated a record $117 in U.S. exports. USTDA has facilitated more than $76 billion in U.S. exports since its founding in 1992, supporting 4,000 infrastructure activities in 139 countries.
Arlington, VA – Today, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) and the Japan Bank of International Cooperation (JBIC) announced a new partnership to advance high-quality infrastructure in emerging economies around the world. The partnership was announced during President Joe Biden’s visit to Tokyo.
“USTDA and JBIC are partnering to develop climate-smart infrastructure that can be financed, implemented and sustained,” said Enoh T. Ebong, USTDA’s Director. “Our collaboration will advance the development of resilient, quality infrastructure in our partner countries, while increasing U.S. and Japanese industry engagement in these projects.”
The partnership was commemorated through the signing of a memorandum of cooperation (MOC) in support of the second Leaders’ Summit of the Quad, which included President Joe Biden, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of Australia, Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India, and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida of Japan.
The MOC creates a framework for strengthened USTDA and JBIC collaboration on project preparation and financing to help implement sustainable infrastructure priorities identified under the Quad. Shared goals highlighted under the MOC include supporting climate-smart infrastructure investments that promote green, sustainable, and resilient infrastructure, as well as providing support for project preparation to ensure the bankability of infrastructure projects.
Mr. Maeda Tadashi, JBIC’s Governor, said: “JBIC and USTDA share a commitment to strengthening the energy security and economic security of emerging economies around the world. Our partnership will leverage the complementary resources of two agencies that are recognized global leaders in their respective fields and advance infrastructure projects in which both Japanese and U.S. companies can participate.”
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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 | (703) 875-4357
Arlington, VA – Today, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency awarded a grant to Mekong Clean Energy Interconnection Company Ltd. (MCEICL) for a feasibility study to advance the development of a high-voltage transmission line in southern Vietnam’s Bac Lieu province. USTDA Director Enoh T. Ebong announced the award during a ceremony attended by Vietnam’s Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo. MCEICL has selected Kansas-based Black & Veatch Management Consulting, LLC to perform the study.
“High-quality transmission grids can absorb a higher volume of renewable energy. With this grant, USTDA is facilitating the development of sustainable infrastructure that will help advance Vietnam’s clean energy and energy access goals,” said Director Ebong. “U.S. companies are eager to partner with Vietnam to advance these goals.”
USTDA’s study will support the implementation of the transmission line by developing preliminary designs, risk mitigation strategies and an implementation plan. The transmission line will provide power transmission capacity for grid-scale renewable energy projects in the region to help meet the rising power needs of the Mekong River Delta and southern Vietnam.
“This USTDA grant supports affordable and reliable clean energy to the country and people of Vietnam. The transmission line will further enable the country’s goals to achieve net-zero by decongesting grid bottlenecks for renewable energy projects in the Mekong Delta,” said Bobby Quintos, Managing Director of MCEICL’s parent entity, Delta Offshore Energy.
This activity advances the goals of USTDA’s Global Partnership for Climate-Smart Infrastructure, which connects U.S. industry to major clean energy and transportation infrastructure projects in emerging economies.
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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 | (703) 875-4357
Arlington, VA – The U.S. Trade and Development Agency announced earlier today that it has reached several important milestones in the implementation of its commitments under the Biden-Harris Administration’s U.S. International Climate Finance Plan, which was launched one year ago this week. USTDA announced it has already funded more than $30 million in activities toward helping its overseas partners achieve their energy and transportation sector climate goals, including more than two dozen project preparation and partnership-building activities that are designed to help unlock more than $50 billion in climate finance and support more than $12 billion in U.S. exports.
“USTDA is fast outpacing the ambitious goal that it set one year ago to dedicate up to $60 million over three years to advance climate-smart infrastructure in emerging economies,” said Enoh T. Ebong, USTDA’s Director. “Now more than ever, project preparation is needed to help our overseas partners structure climate-smart infrastructure deals that can be financed, implemented and sustained.”
USTDA’s signature initiative for meeting its international climate finance commitments is the Global Partnership for Climate-Smart Infrastructure, which President Biden launched during the April 2021 Leaders Summit on Climate. The goal of the Partnership is to connect U.S. industry to major clean energy and transportation infrastructure projects in emerging economies. The Partnership leverages USTDA’s project preparation expertise – including feasibility studies, technical assistance, and pilot projects – as well as partnership-building activities, such as reverse trade missions, to support the use of U.S. technologies and services in overseas climate-smart infrastructure projects.
For information on the activities that USTDA has supported under the Global Partnership for Climate-Smart Infrastructure, please review our Fact Sheet.
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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 | (703) 875-4357
Arlington, VA – Today, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency announced grant funding for a feasibility study to expand broadband infrastructure for half a million people in South Africa’s Western Cape province. California-based Global Resources, Inc., a certified woman-owned small business, will conduct the study.
“USTDA is proud to expand its portfolio of activities that advance South Africa’s digital transformation goals,” said Enoh T. Ebong, USTDA’s Director. “Under our Access Africa initiative, USTDA is working with partners such as the Western Cape Government to support planning for the deployment of critical broadband infrastructure.”
USTDA’s feasibility study will advance the Western Cape Government’s (WCG) goal of connecting each town and village in the province to affordable high-speed broadband networks. The study will assess the economic and technical viability of deploying new broadband infrastructure across the province, as well as potential ownership and operations models for future broadband deployments.
“The U.S. government’s support to expand broadband infrastructure in the Western Cape aims to create economic opportunities and promote mutual prosperity,” said Consul General Todd Haskell. “These goals are the foundation of our trade and investment promotion partnership with the provincial government. Our commitment to these goals ensures that the United States is the top foreign direct investor in the province and the province’s top export market with over $1.5 billion in bilateral trade annually.”
The Premier of the Western Cape, Alan Winde, said: “I am thrilled by the signing of this agreement today. It marks yet another leap forward to freedom of connection, to the world and its economy, for our citizens. It is my hope that this investment will one day soon deliver greater ease for entrepreneurs to create and build their businesses, for job-seekers to pursue opportunities and work, and for learners to be able to study and thrive at school, and I look forward to receiving the final product. Improving broadband access, particularly in our most disconnected communities, is a real enabler of growth, and this feasibility study will tell us how best to achieve this.”
Premier Winde added: “The signing of this agreement is further testament to the strong bilateral relationship between the Western Cape Government and its United States counterparts. I want to thank the U.S. Trade and Development Agency, in particular, for this important contribution, and for ultimately helping us in our goal to connect our citizens to the world.”
This project supports Access Africa, USTDA’s initiative to advance the development of inclusive, secure, and sustainable ICT infrastructure across Africa, and the U.S. government’s Prosper Africa initiative to substantially increase two-way trade and investment between the U.S. and Africa.
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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 | (703) 875-4357
Arlington, VA – Today, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency awarded a technical assistance grant to the State of Yucatán’s Institute of Mobility and Territorial Urban Development (IMDUT) to modernize the public transportation system in Mérida, the capital of Yucatán. USTDA’s assistance will advance the deployment of intelligent transportation system (ITS) technologies and electric mobility solutions across the city.
“USTDA is dedicated to helping its partners achieve their carbon-free transportation goals. We share IMDUT’s commitment to provide higher quality public transportation services in Mérida through utilizing cutting-edge technologies and climate-smart solutions that U.S. companies are eager to provide,” said Enoh T. Ebong, USTDA’s Director.
“Integrated and reliable public transportation is an essential component for Yucatán’s economic growth and development,” said Rafael Hernández, Director General of IMDUT. “As the state government agency committed to improving the performance, operation and safety of urban transport, IMDUT is excited to collaborate with USTDA to modernize the bus transit system in Yucatán.”
Consul General at the U.S. Consulate General in Mérida, Dorothy Ngutter, said: “With this investment, USTDA is supporting an important project to transform Mérida’s public transportation system, which serves hundreds of thousands of passengers every day. I am pleased that this project will advance the transition to electric mobility, and supports President Biden’s initiatives on climate change, clean energy and conservation. The United States is committed to strengthening the bilateral relationship, and advancing initiatives focused on the sustainable development of southern Mexico.”
Today’s grant signing ceremony was attended by the Governor of the State of Yucatán Mauricio Vila Dosal and the Mayor of Mérida Renan Barrera.
This activity advances the goals of USTDA’s Global Partnership for Climate-Smart Infrastructure, which connects U.S. industry to major clean transportation and energy infrastructure projects in emerging markets. It also advances the U.S. government’s Root Causes Strategy.
U.S. businesses interested in submitting proposals for the USTDA-funded technical assistance 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 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 | (703) 875-4357
USTDA Generates Record Results for U.S. Exporters
