OPIC WELCOMES THE WATER COUNCIL TO PARTNERS PROGRAM
Global leader in freshwater access can help leverage new opportunities with OPIC development finance tools
Organizations will co-host April 28 Milwaukee event to promote small business growth
WASHINGTON, April 27, 2015 – The Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), the U.S. Government’s Development Finance Institution, today welcomed The Water Council to the OPIC Partners Program. The Milwaukee-based Water Council aligns the world’s freshwater industry and research communities to promote access to water technology and innovation as a key pillar of economic development.
As a participant in the OPIC Partners Program, The Water Council can connect its network of globally-minded, U.S.-based innovators with OPIC’s unique development finance tools and four decades of development finance experience leveraging U.S. business growth in global emerging markets.
To inaugurate the partnership, the two organizations will co-host a seminar on April 28 at the Global Water Center in Milwaukee for small businesses seeking to enter international markets. The seminar provides education on OPIC products and services to enable U.S. business growth in developing countries. Registration for the event is free.
“We are excited to be joining OPIC’s Partners Program in an effort to present further opportunities for our members to foster economic development in overseas emerging markets,” said Dean Amhaus, president and CEO of The Water Council. “Wisconsin is truly one of the world’s most significant hubs for water research and industry. As water technology exports increase, OPIC will be a great resource for our companies.”
“Partnering with forward-thinking groups like The Water Council allows OPIC to better carry out our mission of catalyzing the private sector for life-improving global development impact,” said Elizabeth Littlefield, OPIC’s President and CEO. “The Water Council’s promotion of the intrepid work in the U.S. clean water access sector aligns with OPIC’s goal to show what American business innovation can achieve when it turns its attention to global development. I look forward to the products of this partnership.”
The only organization of its kind in the United States, The Water Council is capturing the attention of the world and transforming the Milwaukee region into a World Water Hub for freshwater research, economic development and education.
OPIC offers U.S. businesses financing and political risk insurance to enable their growth in developing markets. OPIC’s mission is to catalyze private capital as a tool for global development by leveraging investment in high impact sectors like healthcare, renewable energy, food security, housing for the poor and clean water access. Partnership with The Water Council will allow businesses and researchers in the water sector to learn about how OPIC tools can help them realize progress in their business ventures.
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ABOUT OPIC
OPIC is the U.S. Government’s development finance institution. It mobilizes private capital to help address critical development challenges and in doing so, advances U.S. foreign policy and national security priorities. Because OPIC works with the U.S. private sector, it 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 funding cannot be obtained elsewhere. Established as an agency of the U.S. Government in 1971, OPIC operates on a self-sustaining basis at no net cost to American taxpayers.
All OPIC projects adhere to high environmental and social standards and respect human rights, including worker’s rights. By mandating high standards, OPIC helps raise the industry and regional standards of the countries in which its projects operate. OPIC services are available for new and expanding business enterprises in more than 160 countries worldwide.
ABOUT THE WATER COUNCIL
The Water Council was established in 2009 by Milwaukee-area businesses, education and government leaders. With more than 150 water technology companies in the Milwaukee area, the region’s water industry is a $10.5 billion dollar market and accounts for four percent of the world’s total water business. The non-profit organization, consisting of more than 160 members, is linking together global water technology companies, innovative water entrepreneurs, acclaimed academic research programs and, most importantly, some of the nation’s brightest and most energetic water professionals. For more information, visit www.thewatercouncil.com or contact us by phone at 414.988.8750.