Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) has showcased its support for several investment projects in Kenya during the president’s official visit to the United States.
The projects support a range of sectors from affordable housing to reliable energy to OPIC’s Connect Africa initiative aimed at improving connectivity in Africa by investing $1 billion in physical infrastructure, technology, and value chains. Some of the major agreements include an investment deal with Twiga Foods for $5 million in financing which will enable the company to expand its produce distribution business and improve food security in Kenya.
The second investment deal was in Actis LLP/Kipeto Energy to provide $233 million in financing for the construction and operation of a 100-megawatt wind power plant south of Nairobi, adding a reliable source of energy to the national grid and thirdly Acorn Housing, a Kenyan company backed by Helios Investment Partners, providing a $50 million loan for the development, construction, and operation of up to 5,200 affordable apartment units for students in Kenya.
“By addressing some of the country’s most pressing development needs from power to transportation infrastructure, these projects will be hugely impactful engines of economic growth and regional stability throughout Kenya,” said Washburne. “OPIC is proud of its work in Kenya and today’s actions highlight its continued commitment to supporting private sector investment and advancing development in the country.”
Mr. Washburne recently returned from a six country visit to the continent where he met with heads of state, visited OPIC-supported projects, and unveiled the agency’s new Connect Africa investment initiative. Africa is a longstanding priority for OPIC and accounts for about one-quarter of the agency’s $23 billion global portfolio.
As part of his National Security Strategy, President Trump highlighted the need for a modernized approach by the U.S. Government to development finance to help grow aspiring partners, promote economic relationships, and increase investment in regions important to American interests.