EXIM Announces Speakers for 2019 Annual Conference

Larry Kudlow, Peter Navarro among speakers in government, business, academia, and media
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 27, 2019
Media Contact Name/Phone
Linda Formella (202-565-3204)

Washington, D.C. - Leaders of government, international business, academia, and the media will address the 2019 Annual Conference of the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) on Thursday and Friday, March 28-29, at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C. The conference features two keynote addresses on Thursday, March 28, as well as two days of plenary discussions and breakout sessions on the critical role that exporting performs in protecting national security and increasing economic prosperity.

The event is open to credentialed members of the press and also will be livestreamed for the media only at https://events.tvworldwide.com/EXIM/2019. For media registration, please RSVP to register@cmpinc.net. For the livestreaming password, please contact Linda Formella at linda.formella@exim.gov. The agenda and the speaker biographies are online.

On Thursday, March 28, Director of the National Economic Council Larry Kudlow will be the keynote speaker in the morning plenary session that begins at 8:45 a.m.

Also on Thursday morning, Andrew Ackerman of The Wall Street Journal will moderate a congressional panel conversation about the path to EXIM's reauthorization, featuring Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II (D-MO), Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-MO), and Rep. Steve Stivers (R-OH).

At Thursday's luncheon, Director of the Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy Peter Navarro will deliver the keynote address at approximately 1:30 p.m. Following his address, Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA), chairwoman of the House Financial Services Committee, will deliver remarks.

After Thursday's luncheon, Kevin Cirilli of Bloomberg will moderate a congressional panel conversation on trade issues and EXIM, featuring Rep. Denny Heck (D-WA) and Rep. Frank Lucas (R-OK).

Thursday's plenary sessions include a panel discussion on EXIM's relation to national security and critical industries that will be moderated by Dr. Douglas Holtz-Eakin, president of the American Action Forum, and featuring General James Cartwright, USMC (ret.); Eric Fanning, president and chief executive officer, Aerospace Industries Association; Seth Grae, president and CEO, Lightbridge Corporation; and Tom Stroup, president, Satellite Industry Association.

Also on Thursday will be a panel discussion on the competitive advantage of export credit agency (ECA) financing, moderated by Dr. Rebecca Harding, CEO of Coriolis Technologies and author of The Weaponization of Trade.  Panel members include Louis Taylor, chief executive of UK Export Finance (UKEF).  Another Thursday panel will discuss global energy demand, moderated by Shawn Bennett, deputy assistant secretary for Oil and Natural Gas, U.S. Department of Energy.  The energy panel includes executives from KBR, Siemens Energy, Inc., Siemens Global Power Generation Services, Stellar Energy, and NuScale Power.

Friday's plenary sessions feature a conversation with John Rice, chairman of GE Gas Power. Panels include discussions of the multiplier effect of EXIM's export credit on the U.S. supply chain and how EXIM engages the private sector in risk-sharing. A third panel covers the fierce competition for Africa's energy sector and the national security impact, including participation by Thomas Hardy, acting director of the U.S. Trade and Development Agency, and Gilbert Kaplan, under secretary of Commerce for International Trade. EXIM will present its annual small business awards at the luncheon on Friday.

ABOUT EXIM BANK:

EXIM Bank is an independent federal agency that provides competitive and necessary export credit to overseas purchasers of U.S. exports to promote and support American jobs. A robust and fully functioning EXIM Bank can assist the United States in leveling the global playing field for U.S. exporters when they compete against foreign companies that receive the support of their national export credit agencies. EXIM also contributes to U.S. economic growth and the support of more than a million jobs through the support of thousands of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) around the country. Since 2000, EXIM Bank has provided $14.8 billion to the U.S. Treasury after paying for all of its administrative and program expenses.