Arlington, VA – Today, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency announced a continuation of last year’s record-breaking results, generating an average of $231 in U.S. exports for every dollar programmed to facilitate infrastructure development in emerging economies. In fiscal year 2024, new U.S. exports identified by USTDA brought the Agency’s total to $120 billion of exports associated with the projects it has supported since its inception as an independent agency in 1992.

“USTDA’s unique mandate allows us to generate tremendous economic return on investment for U.S. taxpayers while delivering on the infrastructure priorities of our partners overseas,” said Enoh T. Ebong, USTDA’s Director. “As the U.S. government’s overseas project preparation agency, we bring decades of experience to furthering projects that lead to high-quality, sustainable infrastructure using solutions made in America.”

USTDA quantitatively measures its results using an “export multiplier.” This ratio, which stands at 231 to 1, represents the average value of U.S. exports that the Agency supports for every Congressionally appropriated dollar that it programs. Given the length of time that it takes for infrastructure projects to move from project preparation to implementation and exports, USTDA calculates its multiplier based on a ten-year rolling average. The current export multiplier is based on USTDA activities that were completed from January 1, 2012, through December 31, 2021.

USTDA also evaluates the potential and realized development outcomes of its activities in areas including infrastructure development and efficiency gains, human capacity building, promoting effective markets and governance, promoting safety and security, and promoting environmental benefit.

For over 30 years, USTDA has employed a rigorous monitoring and evaluation process that measures project-specific data on an ongoing basis, allowing a true and consistent understanding of USTDA’s overall programming effectiveness. This process ensures that a credible and significant link exists between USTDA-funded activities and the exports it has facilitated. These efforts inform both the design of new activities and USTDA’s strategic planning, as well as increase the likelihood of U.S. exports and development outcomes associated with USTDA’s funding.

USTDA’s work advances the objectives of key foreign policy priorities such as the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGI), to deliver game-changing projects to close the infrastructure gap in developing countries.

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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 | press@ustda.gov