Activating American Investment Overseas for a Freer, More Open World

Financing foreign infrastructure is a win-win situation for America and host nations. Robust, modern infrastructure boosts development abroad while also creating opportunities for American businesses and advancing US foreign policy goals. The US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) has led recent US efforts to promote private investment in international infrastructure to advance development, climate and strategic national goals. DFC has made progress since its founding in 2018, yet the global infrastructure funding gap remains massive, and the US still trails the scale of comparable agencies in partner and competitor nations relative to economic size. Policy changes can help the DFC activate more private investment in countries where America has clear economic and diplomatic interests. 

We offer policymakers the following seven recommendations to help embolden the DFC and help ensure a peaceful, prosperous global economy. These recommendations will help create a stronger DFC—one that better meets the needs of today’s competitive environment and helps ensure future opportunities for US firms and the American people.