Includes how major projects are financed and gives examples where relevant. Explains activities of the multilateral development banks in and other aid-funded projects where procurement is open to U.S. bidders.
Last Published: 7/21/2019

The government generally finances major projects with debt from multilateral development banks, individual country Export-Import banks, and  grants from international donor agencies.  While the government has historically preferred concessional loans from multilateral donors, over the past five years it has increasingly relied on loans from China’s ExIm bank.  While these loans are at below market terms, they are more costly than loans from multilateral donors and have significantly contributed to Uganda’s growing debt burden.  AGRC’s agreement to build the oil refinery using funds from capital markets is Uganda’s first major infrastructure construction project to employ private sector funding.  U.S. companies’ project proposals are often disadvantaged due to a lack of readily available financing.  Following passage of the Public-Private Partnership Act (2015), private contractors may also finance projects undertaken in collaboration with the Ugandan government.  

Multilateral Development Banks
The Commercial Service maintains Commercial Liaison Offices in each of the main Multilateral Development Banks, including the African Development Bank and the World Bank.  These institutions lend billions of dollars in developing countries on projects aimed at accelerating economic growth and social development by reducing poverty and inequality, improving health and education, and advancing infrastructure development.  The Commercial Liaison Offices help American businesses learn how to get involved in bank-funded projects, and advocate on behalf of American bidders. Learn more by contacting the Commercial Liaison Offices to the African Development Bank (Export.gov - African Development Bank Group) and the World Bank (Export.gov - The World Bank).

Prepared by our U.S. Embassies abroad. With its network of 108 offices across the United States and in more than 75 countries, the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce utilizes its global presence and international marketing expertise to help U.S. companies sell their products and services worldwide. Locate the U.S. Commercial Service trade specialist in the U.S. nearest you by visiting http://export.gov/usoffices.