US, Colombia Bring $5 Billion Investment to Rural Areas
The United States and Colombia will coordinate with each other for the new investment in rural areas of the South American country. On Monday, the officials said that Colombia's president gave support for the U.S candidate to lead the Inter-American Development Bank.
According to Reuters, Robert O' Brien, the U.S National Security Advisor said in an interview with the local newspaper, El Tiempo, the investment will use $5 billion in private funds for rural areas over three years.
O'Brien said in a video statement with Duque, "This initiative will focus on key elements of the 21st Century growth in Colombia, the rule of law, security, infrastructure, rural development, and democracy."
On Monday, it was announced that Colombia would be a part of a pilot program that gives incentives to the near-shoring of the U.S, businesses as part of a broader U.S strategy. The special adviser of the U.S. President Donald Trump for the Western Hemisphere, Mauricio Claver-Carone, was on the visit.
In Duque's bid to lead the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Duque repeated Colombia's support for Claver-Carone, which set to choose a new head next month. Citing concerns on having an IDB leader from the outside region, many Latin American countries called for a vote delay.
Duque said, "I want to reaffirm the support Colombia has given to the candidacy of Mauricio Claver. You have presented a clear plan to invigorate the recovery of Latin American economies."
On Monday, the U.S revealed a Western Hemisphere strategy focused on security, countering China's influence and economic growth. The U.S. National Security Council officials said that the plan aims to encourage the companies from America to move manufacturing facilities and supply chains to China and go back to the Americas.
The strategy also wants to maintain pressure on rulers in Nicaragua, Cuba, and Venezuela. Trump seeks to build support for his "re-election" campaign even if Democrat Joe Biden is said to lead in national polls. The re-election campaign of President Trump this year increased outreach to Latinos.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration previously announced that the U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) invests more than $29 million to provide broadband service to underserved rural areas in Oklahoma. The investment is part of the $100 million funds for the Reconnection Pilot Program through the CARES Act, as per USDA.
The U.S Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue said, "The need for rural broadband has never been more apparent than it is now - as our nation manages the coronavirus national emergency. Access to telehealth services, remote learning for school children, and remote business operations all require broadband."
Perdue added that he is proud of the rural communities who have been working day in and day out to produce the food and fiber America depends on. Perdue believes that America needs rural communities more than ever during the health crisis to expand access to the critical infrastructure, which will help ensure that rural America will prosper for the years to come.
Pioneer Telephone cooperative will use a $24.2 million grant to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) network to connect 44, businesses, 595, farms, 4,480 people, and two fire stations in rural Oklahoma. The grant targets a high-speed broadband internet in Ellis, Dewey, Blaine, and Kingfisher counties. Also, Cimarron Telephone Company will use a $5.4 million grant to deploy FTTP network to connect three businesses, 107 farms, and 746 people to high-speed broadband internet in Osage and Pawnee counties.
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