USTDA brings 16-member MENA energy delegation to US to advance LNG technology exports and regional gas infrastructure development

A 16-member delegation of energy decision-makers from Egypt, Jordan, and Morocco will travel to the United States from September 19–30, 2026. The U.S. Trade and Development Agency is organizing the trip, with stops in Washington, DC and Houston, Texas — combining White House engagement with hands-on demonstrations of American LNG technologies.

The visit is built to open doors for US companies looking to supply gas infrastructure across the MENA region, where all three countries are actively expanding their energy investments.

USTDA organizes MENA energy delegation visit to the United States

USTDA is the engine behind this visit. The agency selected 16 representatives from public and private energy entities across Egypt, Jordan, and Morocco — a mix that signals serious institutional intent from all three countries.

USTDA is bringing 16 energy decision-makers from Egypt, Jordan, and Morocco to the US from September 19–30, 2026, with stops in Washington, DC and Houston, Texas.

The two-week itinerary runs September 19–30, 2026. Washington, DC comes first, then Houston. Each stop has a distinct purpose: government alignment in the capital, followed by deep industry engagement in the heart of America’s energy sector.

The core goal is straightforward. USTDA wants to showcase US LNG technologies and position American companies as preferred suppliers for gas infrastructure projects taking shape across MENA. This isn’t a goodwill tour — it’s a structured commercial push.

Why USTDA is organizing the delegation: Expanding MENA gas investment

The timing isn’t accidental. Egypt, Jordan, and Morocco are all actively expanding their gas sectors right now, and that expansion is creating real procurement opportunities.

The three countries are investing across LNG import terminals, pipeline capacity, storage infrastructure, and new natural gas applications. Every one of those categories is a potential contract for US suppliers of equipment, services, and technology.

USTDA’s mandate is built around exactly this kind of moment. The agency exists to connect American companies with priority infrastructure projects abroad — early enough that US firms can shape the opportunity rather than simply respond to a tender after the fact. By organizing this delegation, USTDA is pulling the demand side and the supply side into the same room. MENA countries get direct access to US technology; American companies get visibility into what these markets actually need.

White House engagement and Houston industry meetings planned

The Washington leg carries significant weight — both symbolic and practical. The President’s National Energy Dominance Council will host a US Government Engagement Day at the White House specifically for this delegation.

That’s not a routine courtesy meeting. It signals that the US government views MENA gas infrastructure development as a strategic priority, one worth engaging at the highest levels of the executive branch. Delegates will meet senior officials from relevant federal agencies, with conversations likely covering export financing and regulatory frameworks affecting US LNG shipments abroad.

Then the delegation moves to Houston, where the focus shifts from policy to product. Delegates will meet directly with US LNG infrastructure companies and see hands-on demonstrations of American LNG technologies. Houston is the right venue — the city is home to a dense concentration of LNG engineering firms, equipment manufacturers, and project developers. Putting MENA decision-makers in that environment in person, not on a video call, is a deliberate strategy to accelerate commercial relationships.

Public business briefing in Houston on September 24 opens access to US companies

Not every opportunity from this visit is reserved for companies with existing USTDA relationships. On September 24, 2026, USTDA will host a public business briefing in Houston that any US company can attend.

That briefing is a real opening. Delegates from Egypt, Jordan, and Morocco will present directly on their upcoming LNG infrastructure plans, giving American firms an unfiltered look at what these markets are actually planning to build. The format goes beyond a standard panel presentation — one-on-one meetings between US firms and individual delegates will be available, so companies can pitch their specific LNG technology solutions to the people who will actually make procurement decisions.

For smaller US companies without established footholds in MENA markets, this kind of structured access can be genuinely hard to come by. USTDA is effectively lowering the entry barrier for American suppliers who want to compete for these projects.

Promoting US LNG technology exports 

Here’s what to keep in mind as this visit approaches. USTDA is bringing 16 energy decision-makers from Egypt, Jordan, and Morocco to the US from September 19–30, 2026, with stops in Washington, DC and Houston, Texas.

The visit is designed to promote US LNG technology exports and support American companies looking to supply gas infrastructure across the MENA region. All three countries are currently expanding their gas investments — LNG imports, pipelines, storage, and new natural gas applications — creating concrete procurement opportunities.

At the White House, the President’s National Energy Dominance Council will host a government engagement day for the delegation. Houston follows, where delegates will meet US industry and attend technology demonstrations.

US companies that want direct access can attend USTDA’s public business briefing in Houston on September 24, 2026, where one-on-one meetings with delegates will be available. That’s the clearest on-ramp for American firms looking to connect with MENA energy buyers before projects go to formal tender.

Kelly Lippke

Kelly is an experienced writer with 15 years of experience exploring the big stories that shape our world, from tech breakthroughs and space exploration to climate, energy, and the fascinating quirks of science. She has a talent for turning complex ideas into sharp, memorable insights that stay with readers long after they’ve finished reading.