Arlington, VA – Today, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency launched a virtual public procurement training program to support high-quality infrastructure development in six Pacific Island partner countries, including Fiji, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Tuvalu. The program, which is funded under USTDA’s Global Procurement Initiative (GPI), will train public officials from these countries on best value and life-cycle cost analysis for their infrastructure procurement priorities.

“President Biden has elevated broader and deeper engagement with the Pacific Islands as a priority of U.S. foreign policy. High-quality infrastructure development is an important component of this, especially as it relates to helping our partners develop and finance climate-smart infrastructure,” said Enoh T. Ebong, USTDA’s Director. “The intent of this training is to facilitate the procurement of infrastructure that is resilient, sustainable, and conducive to long-term economic growth in the Pacific Islands.”

Launched in 2013, USTDA’s GPI trains public officials in emerging markets 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.

USTDA’s training program advances U.S. foreign policy priorities including the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment and Pacific Island Strategic Infrastructure Initiative.

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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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