Enoh T Ebong, the Director at the US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) is set to arrive in Kenya today for a six-day visit.
A statement issued by the Agency reveals that the official is expected to sign new USTDA commitments to help expand reliable, and affordable high-speed digital connectivity in Kenya and surrounding regions.
This is in line with the US Digital Transformation with Africa Initiative co-led by USTDA.
Ebong will be in the country from Sunday, April 21 to April 26.
She will deliver the keynote speech at the American Chamber of Commerce Business Summit. Ebong will also connect with USTDA partners and local stakeholders to further USTDA's programming.
"In Nairobi, Director Ebong will open the U.S. DTA pavilion at the American Chamber of Commerce Business Summit along with U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo and U.S. Ambassador to Kenya Meg Whitman. The pavilion will highlight DTA’s promise and progress," read part of the statement
Her speech will be on innovative approaches toward mobilising sustainable finance for East Africa's infrastructure priorities.
Additionally, Ebong will also sign two grants to expand high-speed broadband access on the continent.
One of the grants will address Kenya's internet affordability gap through fiberoptic and 5G infrastructure between cities such as Mombasa and Malaba.
Also, Ebong will visit Mawingu Networks Limited, an internet provider in Kenya, to observe how a USTDA-funded feasibility study will support the expansion of the company's connectivity infrastructure throughout rural and underserved areas in East Africa.
"In Kenya and across the region, USTDA's diverse portfolio of programming reflects our partners' priorities, including infrastructure to provide digital connectivity for underserved communities, increase healthcare access and capabilities, and generate clean energy," Ebong stated.
She added that USTDA was committed to bringing these projects and ideas to life by facilitating partnerships that mobilise financing and deploy US private sector innovation.
On the other hand, the second grant will support cross-continent infrastructure from East Africa to the Democratic Republic of Congo to help thousands of Africans gain access to affordable broadband for the first time.
While in Kenya, the official will also tour two hospitals to see cutting-edge technologies and explore opportunities for future USTDA funding support.
"Since its inception in 1992, USTDA has funded more than 50 activities to advance Kenya’s agribusiness, clean energy, digital connectivity, healthcare and transportation infrastructure sectors."
"In 2021, Kenya became a partner of USTDA’s Global Procurement Initiative to help partner countries acquire high-quality, long-lasting technologies while building smart, sustainable infrastructure with overall savings to their governments," read part of the statement.
