
The U.S. Trade and
Development Agency (USTDA) advances economic development and
U.S. commercial interests in developing and middle-income
countries. The agency funds various forms of technical
assistance, feasibility studies, training, orientation visits
and business workshops that support the development of a modern
infrastructure and a fair and open trading environment. USTDA's
strategic use of foreign assistance funds to support sound
investment policy and decision-making in host countries creates
an enabling environment for trade, investment and sustainable
economic development. In carrying out its mission, USTDA gives
emphasis to economic sectors that may benefit from U.S. exports
of goods and services.
Since greatly
expanding its program in Europe and Eurasia with the political
changes in 1990, USTDA has provided funding of over $300 million
for studies and other assistance on more than 1000 major
infrastructure projects in Europe and the countries of the
former Soviet Union. Afghanistan, due to its ties to Central
Asia, also falls within USTDA's Europe and Eurasia region.
USTDA assistance in
the region is often focused on feasibility studies that help
create long-term relationships between U.S. firms and their
local counterparts that open the door to U.S exports. USTDA
funding in support of such projects has two benefits: it reduces
the level of investment risk American companies face in
uncertain markets, and it provides reassurance to local partners
that their projects are backed by active U.S. Government
support.
In carrying out its
Europe and Eurasia program, USTDA often coordinates with federal
agencies such as the Export-Import Bank of the United States
(Ex-Im Bank), which provides trade financing, and the Overseas
Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), which provides insurance
and financing for U.S. investments. USTDA also maintains close
relations with the multilateral financing agencies including -
the World Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and
Development (EBRD), and the International Finance Corporation (IFC)
- as well as the various private and public sector investment
funds that have been established to support projects in the
region. |