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, early investment analysis, 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.

What are USTDA’s objectives?

USTDA’s aim is a win-win scenario: promoting economic growth in developing and middle-income countries, while simultaneously helping American businesses to export their products, thereby creating jobs. In addition, USTDA supports U.S. policy objectives related to development and capacity building activities. Since 1981, USTDA has been associated with more than USD 25 billion in exports, or approximately USD 43 in exports for every dollar invested in USTDA’s activities.

What types of projects does USTDA support?

USTDA provides grant funding for the planning of projects that support the development of a modern infrastructure and an open trading system. While USTDA projects span a wide variety of sectors, many focus on energy and power, transportation, mining and minerals development, telecommunications, information technology, environmental infrastructure and services, and healthcare.

What are the requirements for USTDA funding?

USTDA evaluates projects primarily based on their priority to the project sponsors and the countries where they are located and their likelihood of receiving implementation financing; whether they offer mutual economic benefit for the host country and the United States, including opportunities for commercial cooperation with U.S. firms; and whether there is competition from foreign companies.

With whom does USTDA work?

USTDA provides grants directly to overseas project sponsors who, in turn, select U.S. companies to perform USTDA-funded activities. An overseas project sponsor is the local entity with the decision-making authority and ability to implement a project. The sponsor may be a government institution at the national, state/provincial, or local level, or it may be a local private sector company. USTDA is open for business in more than one hundred countries around the world. In certain nations, statutory, resource and policy constraints limit the availability of USTDA programs.

What types of activities does USTDA support?

USTDA accomplishes its mission by funding: (1) trade capacity building and sector development; and (2) project definition and investment analysis. Trade capacity building and sector development assistance supports the establishment of industry standards, rules and regulations, trade agreements, market liberalization, and other policy reform. Project definition, and investment analysis involves activities that support large capital investments related to overseas development.

To contact the appropriate Regional Director or Country Manager at USTDA, call 703-875-4357, fax 703-875-4009, or e-mail info@ustda.gov.