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 awarded a grant to Thailand’s VAO Energy Co., Ltd. (VAO) for a feasibility study to develop a large plastic recycling facility that will strengthen Thailand’s waste management efforts and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
“USTDA fully supports Thailand’s ambitious goals to combat the economic and environmental consequences of plastic pollution,” said Enoh T. Ebong, USTDA’s Director. “Our assistance will catalyze private sector investment in highly innovative plastic recycling technologies that U.S. companies are well positioned to supply.”
USTDA’s study will help VAO develop a facility to process plastic waste using a high-temperature process called pyrolysis. The resulting value-added product, pyrolysis oil, is an alternative to traditional fossil fuels that can be used for industrial purposes. The facility will help reduce emissions by diverting plastic waste from existing waste management methods, such as incineration, and have great applicability to Southeast Asia’s plastic recycling needs.
This project will also advance Thailand’s Bio-Circular-Green economic model for inclusive and sustainable growth. The model focuses on employing technology and innovation to transform the country to a value-based and innovation-driven economy in the bioenergy, biomaterial and biochemical sector, as well as agriculture and food; medical and wellness; and tourism and creative sectors.
“Plastic pollution, in particular ocean plastic waste, does not respect political boundaries and addressing it requires international cooperation,” said Gwen Cardno, Chargé d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok. “Through USTDA, the U.S. government is proud to work together with Thailand on innovative solutions in keeping plastic waste out of our oceans and to support Thailand’s Bio-Circular-Green economic model.”
Managing Director and Founder of VAO, Ashwin Chugani, added: “VAO is working with USTDA to deliver a cutting-edge solution to reduce plastic pollution at scale. The USTDA teams in Bangkok and Washington have already been hugely helpful in the development of our platform, and their ongoing support will help us to recycle large volumes of plastic in Thailand and across Southeast Asia.”
This project 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 markets.
U.S. businesses interested in submitting proposals for this 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 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 the Philippines’ Aboitiz Renewables, Inc. (Aboitiz Renewables), a subsidiary of Aboitiz Power Corporation (AboitizPower), for a feasibility study to develop up to three gigawatts (3GW) of offshore wind projects in the Philippines. U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken witnessed the grant signing between USTDA Director Enoh T. Ebong and Aboitiz Renewables Vice President, Commercial Strategy, Sales and Engagement, David Aboitiz.
“USTDA is committed to delivering game-changing projects to close the infrastructure gap and support the clean energy transition in the Philippines,” said Director Ebong. “Our assistance will be critical toward defining the wind projects’ technical and design options, as well as structuring deals for international financial institutions. Our goal is to work with U.S. industry to facilitate the delivery of clean energy to millions of Filipinos.”
USTDA’s study will help Aboitiz identify potential project sites and provide technical and economic analysis to deploy up to 3GW of offshore wind turbine generation projects that could power more than two million homes in the Philippines and meet growing energy demand.
“The United States stands committed to working with the Philippines to achieve a clean energy future together,” said Secretary Blinken. “The signing of the USTDA grant on offshore wind is an important step in that direction.”
AboitizPower President and Chief Executive Officer, Emmanuel V. Rubio, added: “It is our goal to contribute to our country’s energy transition journey by exploring more zero-emissions indigenous energy sources. This offshore wind feasibility study is a step in the right direction as we further diversify our extensive renewable energy portfolio to achieve our goal.”
This project 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 markets.
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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 that Director Enoh T. Ebong will join U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken’s travel to the Philippines and South Africa later this week. During the trip, Director Ebong will highlight USTDA’s work to advance the Philippines’ clean energy transition. In South Africa, Director Ebong will participate in the U.S.-South Africa Strategic Dialogue, where she will discuss the U.S. government’s support for sustainable infrastructure development, and highlight how the Agency will advance the goals of the U.S. Strategy for Sub-Saharan Africa, which Secretary Blinken will launch.
“USTDA works alongside U.S. industry and in close partnership with the public and private sectors in the Philippines and South Africa to advance the development of high-quality infrastructure projects that each country has established as its priorities,” said Enoh T. Ebong, USTDA’s Director. “Our model of assistance focuses on access and inclusivity and is based on the core principles of mutual benefit and trust.”
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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 it has awarded a grant to the National Power Transmission Corporation of Vietnam (NPT) for technical assistance to advance the deployment of smart grid technologies in Vietnam. NPT selected Connecticut-based Actionable Strategies LLC to perform the assistance.
“For more than 25 years USTDA has partnered with Vietnam on wholistic energy sector solutions to advance the country’s dynamic economic growth,” said Enoh T. Ebong, USTDA’s Director. “U.S. companies are leading innovators of information technology and power transmission solutions, and they are eager to partner with Vietnam on this important project.”
The project, which builds upon previous collaborative efforts between USTDA and NPT, will support Vietnam’s efforts to leverage advanced information technology and enterprise solutions to support the country’s rapidly growing energy needs. These improvements will also facilitate disaster and pandemic planning at an enterprise level to ensure that NPT can maintain high-quality utility provision to its clients during extreme events.
“Vietnam values its important partnership with USTDA. Our cooperation has strengthened the efficiency and reliability of our power sector, which is essential to Vietnam’s economic growth and the prosperity of our people. We thank USTDA for its support of our priorities and look forward to successful outcomes where we all can benefit,” said Vice Minister Dang Hoang An of Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade.
This project advances the goals of USTDA’s Global Partnership for Climate-Smart Infrastructure and aligns with the Administration’s priorities to advance sustainable energy growth in the region under the Clean EDGE Asia initiative.
(Pictured: USTDA Country Manager Tanvi Madhusudanan announces USTDA support for NPT at the U.S.-Vietnam Energy Security Dialogue)
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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 / Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire – The U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) and African Development Bank’s Africa Investment Forum (AIF) co-hosted a forum of 40 women leaders who are delivering high-quality solutions for Africa’s infrastructure needs. The forum took place during last week’s U.S.-Africa Business Summit, in Marrakech, Morocco.
During the forum, USTDA and AIF showcased how their existing partnership advances women-led sustainable infrastructure in Africa. The closed-door gathering brought together women leaders from Africa’s private sector, the U.S. government, and international development finance agencies. It also supported the U.S. government’s Prosper Africa initiative to increase trade and investment between African nations and the United States.
“It is critically important to bring together women to talk about opportunities in infrastructure development and getting access to capital,” said Enoh T. Ebong, USTDA’s Director. “Our partnership with AIF will facilitate women’s entrepreneurship in Africa and spark the development of sustainable infrastructure in support of Africa’s long-term growth.”
AIF Senior Director Chinelo Anohu lauded the transaction-focused nature of the partnership.
“Today, we have been discussing the obstacles to investment, and how to surmount them. We also considered how to build partnerships across agencies, and how to share deal flows and collaborate on the missing pieces that will enhance infrastructure investment to the continent. This is a collaboration that we will continue as we head to the Africa Investment Forum 2022 Market Days in Abidjan in November, and to the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit in December.”
Addressing the media after the women’s summit, Dana Banks, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Advisor for the U.S.- Africa Leaders Summit, said, “the discussion was a true demonstration of the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to Africa and commitment to focus on women’s empowerment in the run-up to the U.S.- Africa Leaders Summit in December.” Banks also announced that the focus on women, and on connecting project sponsors with capital, will be one of the pillars of the White House Summit.
About the USTDA-AIF Partnership
In November 2021, USTDA and AIF signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to support high-quality infrastructure solutions for sub-Saharan Africa. It draws on AIF’s capacity to mobilize capital and USTDA’s focus on assuring the bankability of deals through its provision of feasibility studies on a grant-making basis. The MOU has already led to a mutually beneficial collaboration to advance sustainable infrastructure projects that support Africa’s long-term growth, as the two organizations share their deal pipelines.
This partnership with USTDA will help AIF advance several of its ongoing priorities, including its “Women as Investment Champions” initiative, which was launched in 2019 and led to the establishment in 2021 of a stand-alone pillar for transactions that are not only founded and led by women, but also have a significant gender impact.
The Women as Investment Champions initiative will be profiled at AIF’s 2022 Market Days, taking place from November 2-4 in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. The platform is expected to increase the proportion of deals that are women-led, and women impactful, as well as build upon AIF’s March 2022 unveiling of 45 projects worth up to $50 billion for its virtual boardrooms. Eight of these were women-led with a value of nearly $5 billion.
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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. business to export opportunities by funding project preparation and partnership building.
The Africa Investment Forum is Africa’s premier investment marketplace to accelerate transactions to close Africa’s investment gaps. It is an initiative of the African Development Bank and seven partner institutions: Africa 50, Africa Finance Corporation, Afreximbank, Development Bank of Southern Africa, European Investment Bank, Islamic Development Bank and Trade and Development Bank.
Prosper Africa mobilizes services from across the U.S Government from 17 participating agencies to provide businesses and investors with market insights, deal support, financing and solutions to strengthen the business climate.
MEDIA Inquiries:
USTDA: Paul Marin, +1 703-875-4357
AfDB: Onike Nicole-Houra, O.NICOL@afdb.org
USTDA Generates Record Results for U.S. Exporters
