EX-IM BANK BOARD DIRECTOR D. VANESSA WEAVER TO VISIT THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION OCT. 13-17, 2001

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 11, 2001
Media Contact Name/Phone
Marianna Ohe (202) 565-3200

D. Vanessa Weaver, a member of the Board of Directors of the Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank), is visiting the Russian Federation Oct. 13-17 as part of a business development mission headed by Commerce Secretary Donald L. Evans aimed at promoting economic growth in both nations.

Weaver will participate in meetings with a broad range of government and business leaders in Moscow to further cooperation in financing U.S. exports to develop Russian industry and infrastructure while supporting U.S. jobs. She will explore initiatives to increase purchases of U.S. equipment and services by Russian small and medium-sized companies.

Ex-Im Bank is an independent federal agency that assists in financing the export of U.S. goods and services to developing markets around the world, through export credit insurance, loan guarantees, and direct loans. Ex-Im Bank authorized $156 million in financing in fiscal year 2001 to support the export of U.S. equipment and services to the Russian Federation. Worldwide in fiscal year 2001, Ex-Im Bank authorized $9.1 billion in financing to support approximately $12.4 billion of U.S. exports worldwide.