{"id":138129,"date":"2023-11-08T15:58:35","date_gmt":"2023-11-08T22:58:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/?p=138129"},"modified":"2023-11-08T15:58:35","modified_gmt":"2023-11-08T22:58:35","slug":"us-dfc-commits-half-billion-dollars-to-port-infrastructure-in-colombo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/2023\/11\/08\/us-dfc-commits-half-billion-dollars-to-port-infrastructure-in-colombo\/","title":{"rendered":"US DFC commits half billion dollars to port infrastructure in Colombo"},"content":{"rendered":"

Courtesy Adaderana<\/em><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n

The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) today announced it has committed more than half a billion dollars to support the development of a deepawater shipping container terminal in the Port of Colombo, Sri Lanka, that will provide critical infrastructure for the South Asian region. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The new terminal reflects DFC\u2019s commitment to financing high-quality infrastructure that supports its partner\u2019s development needs, invests in local communities, and is respectful of local financial conditions.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The investment further demonstrates the United States\u2019 enduring commitment to Sri Lanka\u2019s economic growth and its regional economic integration, including with India, the US Embassy said in a statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DFC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Scott Nathan traveled to Sri Lanka to launch $553 million in financing to Colombo West International Terminal Private Limited to support the development of the deepwater West Container Terminal located within the Port of Colombo. Foreign Minister Ali Sabry, Chief of Staff to the President and National Security Advisor (NSA) Sagala Ratnayaka and U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung joined CEO Nathan for the ceremonial launch of the new terminal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DFC works to drive private-sector investments that advance development and economic growth while strengthening the strategic positions of our partners. That\u2019s what we\u2019re delivering with this infrastructure investment in the Port of Colombo,\u201d said DFC CEO Scott Nathan. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sri Lanka is one of the world\u2019s key transit hubs, with half of all container ships transiting through its waters. DFC\u2019s commitment of $553 million in private-sector loans for the West Container Terminal will expand its shipping capacity, creating greater prosperity for Sri Lanka \u2013 without adding to sovereign debt \u2013 while at the same time strengthening the position of our allies across the region.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung said, The $553 million investment by DFC for the long-term development of the Port of Colombo\u2019s West Container Terminal will facilitate private- sector-led growth in Sri Lanka and attract crucial foreign exchange inflows during its economic recovery. This financing is symbolic of the United States\u2019 long-standing commitment to the development and well-being of the people of Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka regaining its economic footing will further our shared vision for a free and prosperous Indo-Pacific.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This investment models how DFC operates, supporting projects that are strategic, economically sound, and led by the private sector. DFC is working with world-class sponsors John Keells Holdings and Adani Ports & Special Economic Zones Limited (APSEZ). These companies\u2019 local experience and high-quality standards will help support local jobs and make this project a long-term, sustained success for the Indo-Pacific. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Port of Colombo is the largest and busiest transshipment port in the Indian Ocean. It has been operating at more than 90 percent utilization since 2021, signaling its need for additional capacity. The new terminal will cater to growing economies in the Bay of Bengal, taking advantage of Sri Lanka\u2019s prime position on major shipping routes and its proximity to these expanding markets.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Courtesy Adaderana The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) today announced it has committed more than half a billion dollars to support the development of a deepawater shipping container terminal in the Port of Colombo, Sri Lanka, that will provide critical infrastructure for the South Asian region.  The new terminal reflects DFC\u2019s commitment to financing […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[102],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-138129","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-economy"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/138129","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=138129"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/138129\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=138129"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=138129"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=138129"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}