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OPIC says East Africa is a fast growing region and need for investment in power, infrastructure, water, agriculture, and other development sectors is growing/FILE

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OPIC to open first East Africa office in Nairobi

OPIC says East Africa is a fast growing region and need for investment in power, infrastructure, water, agriculture, and other development sectors is growing/FILE

OPIC says East Africa is a fast growing region and need for investment in power, infrastructure, water, agriculture, and other development sectors is growing/FILE

NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 23 – The Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), the United States government’s development finance institution, has announced plans to open its first- East Africa office in Nairobi.

The corporation has appointed Suresh Samuel as Managing Director of the Kenya office.

This is the third office OPIC has opened in Africa aimed at increasing OPIC’s regional presence.
The announcement was made during the ongoing U.S.-Africa Business Forum (USABF).

OPIC says East Africa is a fast growing region and need for investment in power, infrastructure, water, agriculture, and other development sectors is growing.

“This office will cultivate a strong U.S. business presence in a fast-growing investment environment. OPIC’s Kenya regional office is the start of an important chapter for this Agency and for lasting development throughout East Africa,” said Elizabeth L. Littlefield, OPIC President.

She says the opening of this office in Nairobi signals both OPIC’s commitment to continue catalyzing investment in this critical region and a recognition of the increasing private sector interest in East Africa as an exciting destination for investment opportunities in emerging markets.

During President Barack Obama’s administration OPIC has opened three offices in Africa, including offices in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, and an office in Johannesburg, South Africa.

These OPIC offices will support the region’s business development and promote the benefits of private sector-led development throughout Sub-Saharan Africa.

OPIC began supporting private investment in Kenya in 1974 and has since then provided Sh85 billion in finance and political risk insurance support for investments in 52 projects in Kenya.

The corporation currently has about Sh70 billion of active financing and political risk insurance commitments in Kenya.
Recent projects include wind power in Kenya, agriculture across Sub-Saharan Africa, and power generation in Nigeria.

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OPIC has been active in Africa since 1972 and has supported over Sh1trillion of investments in over 500 projects.

OPIC’s portfolio has grown by 250 percent since 2009, with more than Sh626 billion invested across the continent and Sh600 billion of that invested in Sub-Saharan Africa.

OPIC mobilizes private capital to help address critical development challenges and in doing so, advances U.S. foreign policy and national security priorities.
It also helps U.S. businesses gain footholds in emerging markets, catalyzing revenues, jobs and growth opportunities both at home and abroad.

OPIC achieves its mission by providing investors with financing, political risk insurance, and support for private equity investment funds, when commercial funding cannot be obtained elsewhere.

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