The United States Trade and Development Agency, USTDA, is sponsoring a Reverse Trade Mission, RTM, to Washington from October 15 to 25, as part of its effort aimed at modernising Nigeria's electricity distribution infrastructure.
Senior executives from four leading distribution companies, DISCOs, – Abuja, Benin, Eko, and Ikeja – with a combined procurement budget of over $800 million, will participate in the summit, according to a report from PR Web. The delegation will comprise senior decision makers from Nigeria's newly privatised electricity distribution companies, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission and a commercial representative from the U.S. Embassy in Abuja.
As part of the Federal Government's Power Sector Reform Roadmap, the sector is being overhauled to accelerate the expansion of power supply while dramatically improving service delivery, revenue recovery and efficiency across the power sector value chain. A cornerstone of this reform is the ongoing privatization of eleven distribution companies in Nigeria.
"The expected growth in Nigeria's power sector is creating unprecedented opportunities for U.S. firms," noted USTDA's Regional Director for Sub-Saharan Africa, Paul Marin.
"The recent privatization of Nigeria's distribution sector will enable critical investments to be made and improve electricity services throughout the country in coming years."
The RTM will expose Nigerian delegates to U.S. technologies, equipment, and services, as well as policies, regulations, financing mechanisms and management structures that can support the implementation of smart grid infrastructure in Nigeria's distribution companies.
U.S. companies are being encouraged to participate in this RTM. The U.S. Trade and Development Agency helps companies create U.S. jobs through the export of U.S. goods and services for priority development projects in emerging economies. USTDA links U.S. businesses to export opportunities by funding project planning activities, pilot projects, and reverse trade missions while creating sustainable infrastructure and economic growth in partner countries.
