Arlington, VA – The U.S. Trade and Development Agency awarded a technical assistance grant to Power Cell, a policy and planning agency under the Government of Bangladesh’s Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, to help modernize the country’s power sector using smart grid infrastructure. Power Cell selected Massachusetts-based Boston Consulting Group to carry out the assistance.

“USTDA’s grant has the potential to shape Bangladesh’s power grid, to make it more efficient and dynamic, and to create a stronger foundation for the integration of renewable energy solutions,” said Ambassador Vinai Thummalapally (ret.), USTDA’s Acting Director. “Around the world, U.S. companies are helping USTDA’s partners meet their climate goals through the deployment of high-quality infrastructure. These innovative solutions will make a difference for the people of Bangladesh.”

USTDA’s assistance will provide a detailed 10-year roadmap, including an investment and implementation schedule, for using smart grid technologies to strengthen the resilience of Bangladesh’s power grid. These technologies will improve the affordability and reliability of electricity for more than 20 million households and industrial consumers.

“Two-way communication brought about by a smart grid will allow us to generate and use power more intelligently and efficiently. Implementing a smart grid is therefore an infrastructure development as potent as any bridge or flyover,” said Chargé d’Affaires Helen LaFave.

“I hope that by following this roadmap, Bangladesh would be able to achieve its goal to implement smart grid in order to ensure quality and uninterrupted electricity supply,” said State Minister for the Ministry of Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources, Nasrul Hamid.

This activity advances the goals of USTDA’s Global Partnership for Climate-Smart Infrastructure, which connects U.S. industry to major clean transport and energy 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.

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