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Corporate
Council Africa Trade
and Africa
Travel Contacts |
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U.S.
Africa Business Summit 2003.
......Photos
1
...Photos
2 Panel:
Jack Edlow - Moderator (left),
*H.E. Levy P.
Mwanawasa,, President of Zambia (center),
Susan McDermott, Deputy Assistant Secretary
(right) Partnering
for the Future Mission
Statement : 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. Operating at the nexus of foreign
policy and commerce, USTDA is uniquely positioned
to work with U.S. firms and host countries in
achieving the agency's trade and development goals.
In carrying out its mission, USTDA gives emphasis
to economic sectors that may benefit from U.S.
exports of goods and services How TDA Operates TDA funds project planning
activities that directly influence the procurement
decisions related to major industrial or
infrastructure projects in developing and
middle-income countries - projects that typically
represent millions of dollars in U.S. export
potential. From radar for airports in Asia to
process controls for refineries in Latin America,
hundreds of goods and services are required to
implement a project. TDA works to ensure that the
services and products needed for projects will be
stamped "Made in the U.S.A." All TDA activities are
carried out by U.S. firms. The following is a brief
summary of the activities that TDA funds:
ELIGIBLE COUNTRIES -
TDA is active in more than 40 nations around the
world. At times, statutory, resource, and policy
constraints limit the availability of TDA programs
in certain nations. Contact us directly to
determine the status of TDA assistance. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
- TDA reviews the environmental impact of each
project. We will decline funding for projects that
have an adverse impact on the environment of the
host nation. EFFECT ON U.S. JOBS -
Our program is designed to increase American jobs
through increased exports as well as to support the
economic development of the host nation. TDA will
not fund a project if it develops jobs overseas at
the expense of jobs here at home. WORKING WITH OTHER TRADE
PROMOTION AGENCIES - TDA learns of many viable
public and private sector projects from the
Commerce Department's U.S. and Foreign Commercial
Service (US&FCS) and the State Department's
economic and commercial officers. We work closely
with these agencies to identify projects and gauge
the likelihood of their implementation. TDA-funded
feasibility studies often are used by the Overseas
Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) and the
Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im).
Proposals often dovetail with OPIC and Ex-Im
requirements. RELATIONSHIPS WITH
FINANCING INSTITUTIONS - TDA maintains trust
funds at six multilateral development banks (MDBs):
the World Bank, the International Finance
Corporation, the European Bank for Reconstruction
and Development, the Inter-American Development
Bank and its private sector arm, the Inter-American
Investment Corporation, and the African Development
Bank. These funds can be used for technical
assistance or feasibility studies. Most are known
as "Evergreen Funds." TDA maintains a minimum
balance that is available for funding project
proposals by U.S. firms or to help U.S. businesses
take advantage of time-sensitive projects. Since
MDBs finance many of the capital projects in the
developing world, TDA's close relationship with
them is advantageous for the U.S. business
community. In addition to the valuable project
information that is gained through the MDBs (which
TDA passes on to American firms), working on bank
projects ensures that a potential funding source
has been identified. COST SHARING &
SUCCESS FEES - Costs associated with
feasibility studies of private sector projects are
shared between TDA and the U.S. firm developing the
project. Cost sharing may also be requested on
certain public sector projects. In addition, in
private sector projects, co-production agreements,
and other appropriate situations, TDA has adopted a
policy that requires reimbursement of the agency's
investment in the project. This "success fee" is
collected when the project is implemented and the
U.S. firm involved in the study obtains a
"significant economic benefit." FEASIBILITY STUDIES -
TDA's primary tool for getting U.S. firms in on the
"ground floor" of major projects abroad is the
funding of feasibility studies. Feasibility studies
examine the technical, legal, economic, and
financial aspects of a development project in the
concept stage. Study grants are signed
directly with the host country project sponsor on
the condition that an American firm will be
selected to perform the study. When U.S. companies compete
in project development, they are likely to be
selected when the contracts are awarded to supply
goods and services to implement the project.
DEFINITIONAL MISSIONS
& DESK STUDIES - Almost all feasibility
studies are preceded by either a Definitional
Mission or a Desk Study. TDA contracts directly
with a small or minority U.S. business to provide
preliminary information about a proposed study and
project. Definitional Missions (DMs)
are comprised of teams of technical specialists
contracted for a short-term visit to a host
country. Their task is to gather additional
information on the project. Desk Studies (DSs) also
involve information gathering and analysis;
however, they do not require overseas travel by the
specialist. Based on the recommendations
contained in the definitional mission or desk
study, the advice of the U.S. Embassy, TDA's
internal analysis, and budget capabilities, the
agency decides on funding requests by feasibility
studies. TDA also sponsors
conferences and reverse trade missions called
"orientation visits." Both of these activities
familiarize foreign decision makers with
American-made products and services, build business
relationships, and encourage U.S. companies to
export to developing and middle-income countries.
In certain regions, TDA also
funds trade-related training, which enables host
country project personnel to receive technical and
managerial training when a U.S. firm is selected to
implement a project. Technical assistance is funded
by TDA in some situations where the complex demands
of a given project require expertise that is
unavailable from the host country. SAMPLING OF RECENTLY
FUNDED PROJECTS Contact
Information Questions about TDA? Contact
us at info@tda.gov
or by fax 703-875-4009 or phone
703-875-4357. Are you interesting in
receiving TDA's e-mail update? If so, visit the
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