The Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) is the U.S. Government's development finance institution.  Peter Ballinger is OPIC’s managing director for the Africa and Indian Ocean region and is based in Johannesburg.  OPIC joined the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) and the Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) in this joint regional office in order to better support expanded trade and investment promotion initiatives between the U.S. and Africa, including providing on-the-ground for Power Africa. Together, these three agencies have significant financing capacity to support U.S. trade with Africa and U.S. investment in the region.

Coupled with the U.S. Commercial Service on trade promotion and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) on programs such as Power Africa and the Development Credit Authority program, USTDA, Ex-Im Bank and OPIC, are key players supporting U.S. exporters and African companies seeking U.S. technology and goods and services, U.S. investors and their local joint-venture partners, and private equity funds mobilizing capital for development in the region.

Mr. Ballinger is a graduate of the American University in Washington, D.C. (MSc) and of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland (MBA).  This is his third overseas assignment for OPIC, having served previously in Turkey and India, both with a focus on the energy sector.