Regional | East Asia | Europe and Eurasia | Latin America and the Caribbean | MENA | South and Southeast Asia | Sub-Saharan Africa |
Regional
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LEOCADIA I. ZAK ASSUMES DUTIES AS ACTING USTDA DIRECTOR WASHINGTON, D.C. (January 21, 2009) – Leocadia I. Zak assumed the duties of Acting Director of the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) on January 20, 2009. She was named Deputy Director of USTDA in 2006 and previously served as General Counsel after her arrival at the agency in 2000. She also served as Acting Director of the agency from April 30, 2007 through March 16, 2008. | Full Story |
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USTDA DIRECTOR LARRY W. WALTHER ANNOUNCES HIS DEPARTURE WASHINGTON, D.C. (January 16, 2009) – Today, Director Larry W. Walther announced that he is departing USTDA effective January 20, 2009. Since his arrival in March 2008, Director Walther applied his broad private sector expertise in helping to open commercial opportunities for U.S. firms overseas by facilitating mutually beneficial partnerships. | Full Story |
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LARRY W. WALTHER SWORN IN AS USTDA DIRECTOR WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 17, 2008) – Larry W. Walther was sworn in today as the Director of the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA). The assumption of his duties follows his confirmation by the United States Senate on March 14, 2008 and official appointment by President George W. Bush. | Full Story |
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USTDA RELEASES 2007 ANNUAL REPORT NAMING COLOMBIA AS COUNTRY OF THE YEAR WASHINGTON, D.C. (January 2, 2008) – Today, Acting Director Leocadia I. Zak announced the release of USTDA's fiscal year 2007 Annual Report, detailing the agency's developmental and commercial achievements. Reflecting the success of the agency's program in advancing mutual economic benefits and U.S. policy priorities, the Report also names Colombia as USTDA's Country of the Year. | Full Story |
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ACTING DIRECTOR ZAK ANNOUNCES REGIONAL REALIGNMENT ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA (October 01, 2007) – Today, USTDA Acting Director Leocadia I. Zak announced the realignment of the agency's regional structure. Effective immediately, USTDA program activity will be organized in six regions: East Asia, Europe and Eurasia, Latin America and the Caribbean, the Middle East and North Africa, South and Southeast Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa. Full Story |
East Asia
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USTDA LAUNCHES ENVIRONMENTAL PARTNERSHIP AT CHINA-U.S. AVIATION SYMPOSIUM BEIJING, CHINA (April 8, 2009) – At today's opening of the China-U.S. Aviation Symposium, USTDA, together with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), launched the U.S.-China Airport Environmental Partnership and reaffirmed their commitment to the successful U.S.-China Aviation Cooperation Program (ACP). Full Story |
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USTDA PROMOTES ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND WATER QUALITY AT STRATEGIC ECONOMIC DIALOGUE MEETINGS IN CHINA BEIJING, CHINA (December 4, 2008) – Supporting bilateral objectives under the Ten-Year Energy and Environment Cooperation Framework are the goals of two Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) signed by USTDA Director Larry W. Walther at the fifth U.S.-China Strategic Economic Dialogue (SED) meetings taking place this week in Beijing. Full Story |
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USTDA REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO BILATERAL COOPERATION IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF CHINA’S AVIATION SECTOR BEIJING, CHINA (June 25, 2008) – Today, USTDA continued its support of the ongoing U.S.-China Aviation Cooperation Program (ACP) by committing an additional $1 million to support the fourth phase of the successful partnership between USTDA, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), U.S. industry and the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). Full Story |
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USTDA AWARDS AVIATION TRAINING GRANT AT U.S.-CHINA JOINT COMMISSION ON COMMERCE AND TRADE MEETING BEIJING, CHINA (December 10, 2007) – Today, USTDA Acting Director Leocadia I. Zak signed an agreement with China Eastern Airlines Corporation Limited to provide management, leadership and airline marketing training in support of China Eastern's procurement of the General Electric Company’s (GE) GEnx aircraft engines. The program will be provided by GE and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) in Dallas, Texas. Full Story |
Europe and Eurasia
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USTDA ESTABLISHES CLEAN ENERGY PARTNERSHIP WITH TURKEY TO ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE ANKARA, TURKEY (April 4, 2009) – In advance of President Obama's visit to the Republic of Turkey, USTDA and Turkey's Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources (MENR) signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) outlining a broad program of cooperation in the areas of energy efficiency, renewable energy, and clean coal technology. Full Story |
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USTDA AWARDS $1.7 MILLION GRANT FOR STUDY OF TRANS-CASPIAN OIL AND GAS PIPELINES BAKU, AZERBAIJAN (August 16, 2007) – Continuing the U.S. Government's commitment to improve world energy security, assist in the development of new energy transportation corridors, and promote growth in Azerbaijan and the entire Caspian region, USTDA awarded a $1.7 million grant today to the State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR). Full Story |
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USTDA REAFFIRMS ITS COMMITMENT TO GEORGIA'S DEVELOPMENT TBILISI, GEORGIA (August 27, 2008) – Reflecting the strength of the agency's partnership with Georgian project sponsors in promoting the country's development, USTDA Director Larry W. Walther today awarded a grant to the Georgian International Energy Corporation (GIEC), a private natural gas and electric power company. Full Story |
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USTDA DIRECTOR WALTHER TO AWARD GRANTS TO PROMOTE ENERGY SECURITY IN LITHUANIA AND ROMANIA WASHINGTON, D.C. (September 11, 2008) – USTDA Director Larry W. Walther announced plans to travel to Lithuania and Romania from September 14-16, 2008 to award two grants that will strengthen Europe's energy security by furthering the development of liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminals in each country. Full Story |
Latin America and the Caribbean
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BRAZIL RECEIVES USTDA COUNTRY OF THE YEAR AWARD BRASÍLIA, BRAZIL – (December 10, 2008) – Reflecting the success of the agency's program in advancing mutual economic benefits and U.S. policy priorities, USTDA Director Larry W. Walther presented an award today naming Brazil as the agency's 2008 Country of the Year. Full Story |
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USTDA SPONSORS DR-CAFTA TELECOMMUNICATIONS REGULATORY WORKSHOP GUATEMALA CITY, GUATEMALA (November 20, 2008) – Promoting enhanced cooperation and building trade capacity under the United States-Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA) is the goal of a USTDA-sponsored workshop that opened today at the Marriott Hotel in Guatemala City. Full Story |
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USTDA AWARDS GRANTS TOTALING $1.1 MILLION TO COMPLEMENT MCC INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS IN EL SALVADOR LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA (April 30, 2008) – Establishing the necessary infrastructure and capacity for private sector trade and investment to serve as a catalyst for growth in El Salvador's Northern Zone is the goal of two USTDA grants awarded today. Full Story |
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COLOMBIAN PRESIDENT URIBE ACCEPTS USTDA COUNTRY OF THE YEAR AWARD BOGOTÁ, COLOMBIA (March 5, 2008) – Reflecting the success of the agency's program in advancing mutual economic benefits and U.S. policy priorities, USTDA Acting Director Leocadia I. Zak today presented the agency's 2007 Country of the Year award to Colombian President Alvaro Uribe Velez. Full Story |
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ACTING DIRECTOR ZAK AND MEXICAN SECRETARY TÉLLEZ OPEN USTDA CONFERENCE ON BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS IN INFRASTRUCTURE
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO (Februrary 27, 2008) – Promoting the development of transportation, energy and environmental projects under Mexico’s National Infrastructure Program is the focus of a USTDA-sponsored conference that opened today at the Marquis Reforma Hotel in Mexico City. Full Story |
Middle East and North Africa (MENA)
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USTDA SUPPORTS WIRELESS CONNECTIVITY IN THE WEST BANK BETHLEHEM, WEST BANK (May 22, 2008) – Promoting the expansion of wireless Internet connectivity in the West Bank is the goal underlying a $480,625 grant USTDA Director Larry W. Walther signed today at the Palestinian Investment Conference in Bethlehem. USTDA awarded this grant to BCI Communications & Advanced Technologies Ltd. Full Story |
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USTDA PROJECT FORUM PROMOTES ICT SECTOR DEVELOPMENT IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA MUSCAT, OMAN (May 15, 2006) – Expanding information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure in the Middle East and North Africa is the objective of a project forum sponsored by the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA). The event, which is taking place through May 16, 2006, in Muscat, Oman, attracted more than 180 public and private sector participants from the Middle East, North Africa and the United States. The Forum is being held in cooperation with the Ministry of National Economy of the Sultanate of Oman. Full Story |
South and Southeast Asia
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USTDA GRANTS SUPPORT CLEAN WATER INITIATIVES IN THE PHILIPPINES MANILA, PHILIPPINES (July 25, 2008) – Providing technological solutions to address water treatment and water loss reduction challenges in the Philippines is the subject of two USTDA grants awarded today in a ceremony at the American Embassy in Manila. Full Story |
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USTDA FURTHERS ITS COMMITMENT TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF VIETNAM’S AVIATION SECTOR HANOI, VIETNAM (July 22, 2008) – Enhancing aviation safety and assisting Vietnam in meeting international aviation regulations is the subject of a USTDA grant awarded today to the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam (CAAV). Full Story |
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USTDA REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO VIETNAM'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DURING OFFICIAL VISIT OF VIETNAMESE PRIME MINISTER DUNG WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 24, 2008) – Today, two USTDA projects were featured at a business and trade promotion event held at the U.S. Department of Commerce during the official visit of Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung. Full Story |
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USTDA REOPENS ITS PROGRAM IN THAILAND WASHINGTON, D.C. (February 7, 2008) – USTDA Acting Director Leocadia I. Zak today announced the reopening of the agency's program in Thailand. The announcement follows the certification by the U.S. Department of State to Congress yesterday of Thailand's inauguration of a democratically elected government. Full Story |
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USTDA GRANT SUPPORTS INTEGRATED COAL MINING AND POWER GENERATION PROJECT IN PAKISTAN WASHINGTON, D.C. (September 12, 2007) – To address critical power shortages and promote energy security in Pakistan under the U.S.-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue, announced by President George W. Bush and President Pervez Musharraf in March 2006, USTDA today awarded an $810,000 grant to Habibullah Energy Limited (HEL). Full Story |
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U.S.-INDIA AVIATION PARTNERSHIP SUMMMIT OPENS NEW DELHI, INDIA (April 23, 2007) – To promote greater collaboration between the U.S. and Indian aviation sectors, USTDA, in partnership with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MOCA), Government of India, is sponsoring the U.S.-India Aviation Partnership Summit, which opened today at the Taj Majal Hotel. Full Story |
Sub-Saharan Africa
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USTDA PROJECT SUPPORTS MANUFACTURING JOBS IN ILLINOIS RED BUD, ILLINOIS (January 27, 2009) – Today, Acting Director Leocadia Zak visited the manufacturing facilities of Integrated Manufacturing Technologies (IMT) in Red Bud, Illinois to meet with employees who are benefiting from USTDA's commercially-focused foreign assistance program. Full Story |
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GHANAIAN VICE PRESIDENT MAHAMA OPENS USTDA CONFERENCE ON INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE IN WEST AFRICA ACCRA, GHANA (July 09, 2008) – In support of USTDA’s long-term commitment to infrastructure development in Africa, Vice President Mahama, Deputy Director Zak and Ambassador David Gross opened a conference on expanding information and communications technology infrastructure in West Africa. Full Story |
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USTDA DIRECTOR WALTHER UNVEILS AFRICAN TRADE LANES PARTNERSHIP INITIATIVE CAPETOWN, SOUTH AFRICA (April 14, 2008) – Today, USTDA Director Larry W. Walther officially launched the African Trade Lanes Partnership in opening remarks at the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Transportation and Trade Forum. Full Story |
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RWANDAN PRESIDENT PAUL KAGAME OPENS USTDA CONFERENCE ON INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE IN AFRICA WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 19, 2007) – Promoting a dialogue on the development of the information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure necessary to support Africa's economic development is the focus a USTDA-sponsored conference that opened today at the Hilton Hotel in the San Francisco Financial District. Full Story |
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USTDA SUPPORTS DEVELOPMENT OF THE POWER SECTOR IN LIBERIA DURING PRESIDENT ELLEN JOHNSON-SIRLEAF'S VISIT WASHINGTON, D.C. (February 15, 2007) – Today, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency made its first commitment to the ongoing development of Liberia that is being led by President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf. USTDA invested $400,000 in a grant to the Liberian Ministry of Lands, Mines and Energy to assist in developing the nation's power sector. Full Story |