Washington, D.C. – John Jovanovic, Chairman of the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM), will join the 11th Powering Africa Summit (PAS), taking place in Washington, D.C. from 19–20 March 2026. His participation reinforces the strength of the U.S. delegation and underscores the role of export credit in advancing the U.S.–Africa energy partnership.
As the United States sharpens its focus on investment-led commercial diplomacy, export credit and structured finance are central to delivering cross-border energy projects. In a competitive global capital environment, the ability to deploy guarantees, credit facilities and risk-mitigation tools at scale is shaping which projects move forward.
Under this year’s theme, Powering the U.S.–Africa Partnership: Energy Infrastructure, Critical Minerals & Investment Strategies, the Summit shifts firmly toward execution. From large-scale power generation and transmission to LNG infrastructure and critical minerals supply chains, U.S. financing institutions are playing a key role in accelerating project delivery and strengthening bilateral trade and investment ties.
Confirmed U.S. government leaders include John Jovanovic, Chairman, EXIM; Nicholas Checker, Senior Bureau Official, Bureau of African Affairs, United States Department of State; Thomas Hardy, Deputy Director & COO, U.S. Trade and Development Agency; Daniel Petrie, Acting Chief of Staff, Millennium Challenge Corporation; Nancy Rivera, Managing Director, U.S. International Development Finance Corporation; Sarah Whitten, Senior Vice President, Global Head of Origination, EXIM; Amanda Jennings, Acting Deputy Vice President, Infrastructure, Environment & Private Sector, Millennium Challenge Corporation; Shiyana Gunasekara, Deputy Director for African & Middle Eastern Affairs, United States Department of Energy; Heather Lanigan, Regional Director for Sub-Saharan Africa, U.S. Trade and Development Agency; Alexander Dixon, Senior Director, Finance, Investment & Trade, Millennium Challenge Corporation; Neb Girma, Senior Director, Millennium Challenge Corporation; and Laura Spector, Country Manager, Energy, U.S. Trade and Development Agency.
Simon Gosling, Managing Director of EnergyNet, said: “EXIM sits at the heart of how large-scale infrastructure projects are financed. Chairman Jovanovic’s participation reflects the seriousness of U.S. engagement and the growing emphasis on delivery. PAS provides a platform where policy direction, financial instruments and project pipelines align — and where dialogue increasingly turns into transactions.”
Alongside Summit Sponsor Sun Africa, Petrodex joins as Lead Sponsor, Genesis Energy as Networking App Sponsor, and Lagos State Office of Works as African Government Partner. Additional sponsors include Endeavor Energy, Denham Capital, Mission 300 and HYDRO-LINK. Associate Sponsors include Absa, Alliant, Allied Talent Partners, Nant Power and NRECA International.
