Tokyo, Japan – This week, USTDA’s Acting Director, Thomas R. Hardy, wrapped up a trip to Japan where he kicked off the LNG Supply and Natural Gas Cooperation Program with the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI). The program involves a METI-hosted training for energy decision-makers from the Indo-Pacific Region on best practices supporting quality infrastructure development.

Building on the training, USTDA will host an LNG Supply and Natural Gas Infrastructure Reverse Trade Mission, bringing up to twenty delegates from ASEAN partner countries to the United States for Global Procurement Initiative: Understanding Best Value (GPI) training, consultations with relevant U.S. government agencies, and discussions with financiers. The goal of the visit is to introduce overseas decision-makers to U.S. gas infrastructure best practices, policies and financing sources that can support energy projects across the region.

USTDA’s cooperation with METI began with an MOU signed in November 2017 focused on supporting the development of high quality infrastructure in the Indo-Pacific Region. USTDA’s program is a deliverable of the Japan-United States Strategic Energy Partnership (JUSEP).

While in Japan, Mr. Hardy met with partners from the Government of Japan, U.S. companies, and the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo to discuss continued cooperation.