U.S. Trade and Development Agency
1000 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 1600 * Arlington, Virginia 22209
Telephone (703) 875-4357 * Fax (703) 875-4009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Donna Thiessen
(703) 875-4357
USTDA AIRPORT INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT GRANT PROMOTES ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN SRI LANKA
COLOMBO, SRI LANKA – (September 19, 2005) Developing airport infrastructure in Sri Lanka to support increased trade and growth in the tourism sector is the goal of a U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) grant awarded today to the Ministry of Ports and Aviation of Sri Lanka. The $422,800 technical assistance grant will enable the government of Sri Lanka to develop a comprehensive capital investment program for the country’s civil aviation infrastructure.
The grant was conferred during a ceremony at the office of the Secretary of the Ministry of Finance and Planning of Sri Lanka. U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka Jeffrey J. Lunstead and Dr. P.B. Jayasundera, Secretary in the Ministry of Finance and Planning, signed the grant agreement on behalf of the U.S. and Sri Lankan governments, respectively.
Sri Lanka, an island nation, is dependent on air and sea transportation for trade and tourism. The government has chosen to develop and expand the country’s airports to foster its use as a regional transportation hub and promote growth in the country’s tourism industry. To support these goals, the USTDA-funded technical assistance will assist the government in discerning the economic, financial, and technical viability of: (a) making a near-term capital investment decision to expand the existing international runway and/or creating a second runway at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA); and (b) further upgrading the airside and groundside infrastructure of BIA and upgrading and developing existing and greenfield airports.
The government of Sri Lanka will announce the opportunity to provide the USTDA-funded technical assistance via the Federal Business Opportunities website at www.fedbizopps.gov. Interested U.S. firms should submit their proposals according to the instructions in the announcement. The government of Sri Lanka will select the U.S. firm that will provide the technical assistance.
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 an 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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