ABUJA, NIGERIA - (January 24, 2003) Earlier today, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) and Brewtech Nigeria, Limited entered into a grant agreement to partially fund a feasibility study on the development of a two piece aluminum can manufacturing facility in Lagos State, Nigeria. U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria Howard F. Jeter signed the $251,080 grant agreement on behalf of the U.S. Government. Major General Mohammed Magoro, Chairman of Brewtech Nigeria, Limited, signed the agreement on behalf of the grantee. Henry Steingass, USTDA Regional Director for Africa and the Middle East; Michael Bjorn, Regional Director for Brewtech Nigeria Limited; and John Moore, Business Director for Roeslein and Associates, witnessed the grant signings.

Roeslein and Associates of St. Louis, Missouri, in conjunction with the Ball Packaging Corporation of Broomfield, Colorado, will conduct the USTDA-funded study and will contribute $166,320 toward the completion of the study. This early project planning assistance will provide a full assessment of the current economic, financial and environmental conditions for the construction of can production lines in Nigeria. Following the signing of the grant agreement, Roeslein and Associates and Brewtech Nigeria, Limited signed a contract for the commencement of the feasibility study. Joining Roeslein and Associates and Brewtech Nigeria, Limited at the contract signing was Emeka Abone, General Manager of the SLOK Group, a potential financier for the implementation of the canning facilities.

At the conclusion of the grant and contract signing, Brian Sneed, Controller for Roeslein and Associates, stated, "We are very excited about the funding provided by USTDA and are confident that the conclusion of the feasibility study will yield a successful project implementation targeted for completion and production of aluminum cans by June 2004."

Since reopening its country program in late 2000, USTDA has provided over $4 million in funding to various infrastructure projects in Nigeria. Working together with the U.S. Embassy in Abuja, and strong development partners in Nigeria, USTDA is actively seeking to support growth in Nigeria's private sector and crucial industries.

The U.S. Trade and Development Agency 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 and 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.

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