MANAGUA, NICARAGUA - (October 17, 2002) U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) Deputy Director Barbara Bradford led a roundtable discussion yesterday on transportation and infrastructure issues at Compromiso Centro América, a conference sponsored by Caribbean/Latin American Action, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Commerce and the Nicaraguan Ministry of Development, Investment and Commerce (MIFIC). The event was designed to accelerate the regional development process through a strong public-private sector partnership in the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) negotiations and in attracting foreign capital.

The discussions led by Deputy Director Bradford focused on the transportation and infrastructure needs of the region to facilitate economic development under the CAFTA. Other U.S. Government participants at the conference included Grant Aldonas, Undersecretary of Commerce for International Trade; Eduardo Aguirre, Acting Chairman of the Export-Import Bank of the United States; Adolfo Franco, Administrator for Latin American & the Caribbean at the U.S. Agency for International Development; and Manuel Antonio Rosales, Assistant Administrator in the Office of International Trade at the U.S. Small Business Administration. Also participating from USTDA was Country Manager Jeremy Martin.

As part of its mission, USTDA funds capacity building activities that facilitate the development of trade infrastructure and strengthen the links of developing countries to the global economy. In the Latin America region, TDA recently funded the participation of nine Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM) officials in a capacity building seminar on market-based government procurement conducted by the Inter-American Development Bank. This training was an important step in helping the officials to prepare to implement their government procurement commitments in the negotiations on the establishment of the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA). In September, Deputy Director Bradford participated in meetings in Trinidad and Tobago to discuss capacity building initiatives with CARICOM countries related to the proposed FTAA, global trade talks, and the development of closer trade ties between Caribbean nations and the United States.

The U.S. Trade and Development Agency promotes American private sector participation in developing and middle-income countries, with special emphasis on economic sectors that represent significant U.S. export potential. By funding various forms of technical assistance, training grants, feasibility and specialized studies, conferences, orientation visits, and business workshops, USTDA helps American businesses compete for infrastructure projects in emerging markets. In addition, the agency promotes capacity building initiatives and supports U.S. Government trade, economic policy and development objectives around the world.

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