WASHINGTON – The U.S. Government hosted the first meeting of the Blue Dot Network Steering Committee. The meeting was led by U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) and the U.S. Department of State and was attended by Steering Committee representatives from Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC). Officials from other countries observed the meeting to learn more about Blue Dot Network, provide input and feedback to the Steering Committee, and discuss potential opportunities to join the initiative.
Meeting discussions focused on further developing the Blue Dot Network vision as well as membership criteria and responsibilities. Work to finalize benchmarks against which projects will be certified will continue over the coming months.
Blue Dot Network is a multi-stakeholder initiative that brings together governments, the private sector, and civil society to promote high-quality, trusted standards for global infrastructure development in an open and inclusive framework. The initiative will evaluate and certify infrastructure projects based upon adherence to internationally accepted principles and standards to promote market-driven, transparent, and financially sustainable infrastructure development in the Indo-Pacific region and around the world. Blue Dot Network was announced in November 2019 at the Indo-Pacific Business Forum in Bangkok, Thailand.
The Blue Dot Network Steering Committee has been convened to establish the initiative, as well as invite partners representing sovereign governments, economies, the private sector, and civil society to join the effort. U.S. Government coordination of Blue Dot Network is led by DFC in close coordination with other agencies including the U.S. Department of State.
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U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) is America’s development bank. DFC partners with the private sector to finance solutions to the most critical challenges facing the developing world today. We invest across sectors including energy, healthcare, critical infrastructure, and technology. DFC also provides financing for small businesses and women entrepreneurs in order to create jobs in emerging markets. DFC investments adhere to high standards and respect the environment, human rights, and worker rights.