Arlington, VA – Today, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency welcomed Ecuador as its 16th partner under the Global Procurement Initiative (GPI). Under this partnership, USTDA will support the development of high-quality infrastructure in Ecuador by funding best value training and technical assistance for the country’s public procurement officials. The GPI program will be carried out in partnership with the Government of Ecuador’s National Public Procurement Service (SERCOP).
“USTDA is deepening its commitment to Ecuador. Our collaboration under GPI represents a new chapter in the bilateral economic relationship and an expansion of our existing partnership to develop high-quality infrastructure that supports inclusive economic growth for the Ecuadorian people,” said Enoh T. Ebong, USTDA’s Director. “We are proud to work with SERCOP, which has shown great commitment toward implementing internationally recognized best practices in public procurement. Our goal is to strengthen the foundation for vital economic sectors such as healthcare, transportation, clean energy, and digital infrastructure.”
The White House announced USTDA’s invitation to Ecuador to join GPI during President Guillermo Lasso’s visit to the United State in December 2022. USTDA and SERCOP memorialized Ecuador’s membership through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) earlier today in Quito, Ecuador. The first component of the GPI procurement assistance program will take place in Quito on March 14. USTDA’s collaboration with SERCOP under GPI provides concrete action under the bipartisan United States-Ecuador Partnership Act, which was passed by the U.S. Congress and signed into law by President Biden in December 2022.
Launched in 2013, USTDA’s GPI trains public officials in emerging economies on how to establish procurement practices and policies that integrate life-cycle cost analysis and best value determination in a fair, transparent manner. GPI helps partner countries acquire high-quality, long-lasting technologies, while building smart, sustainable infrastructure with overall savings to their government. These procurement methods also open markets to greater international competition. GPI leverages the expertise of its institutional partners and collaborators, which include universities, multilateral development banks and government entities.
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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.
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