EXIM Signs $1 Billion Memorandum of Understanding with Brazil Ministry of Economy in Ceremony with President Bolsonaro of Brazil and U.S. National Security Advisor Robert O'Brien

Commitment Enhances Alliance and Economic Cooperation Between the United States and Brazil; Promotes Jobs in Both Countries and U.S. Exports in Telecommunications (including 5G), Energy, Infrastructure, Logistics, Mining, and Manufacturing
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 20, 2020
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BRASILIA - Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) President and Chairman Kimberly A. Reed today signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Brazil Minister of the Economy Paulo Guedes, in order to promote investment in Brazil and enhance the strong alliance and trading relationship between the two countries. President Jair Bolsonaro of Brazil, U.S. National Security Advisor Ambassador Robert O'Brien, Brazil Minister of Foreign Affairs Ernesto Araujo, and U.S. Ambassador to Brazil Todd Chapman participated in the signing ceremony. The ceremony took place at the Palacio Itamaraty in Brasilia.

Under the agreement, EXIM and Brazil agree to explore and identify potential opportunities for EXIM financing in a total aggregate amount of up to $1 billion. EXIM and Brazil also agree to identify areas to work together to promote investment and business development opportunities, particularly in the telecommunications (including 5G), energy (including nuclear, oil and gas, and renewables), infrastructure, logistics, mining, and manufacturing (including aircraft) sectors.

"This agreement builds on the already strong economic relationship between the United States and Brazil and affirms our commitment to potential projects in Brazil that could be supported with U.S. goods and services," said Chairman Reed. "We intend to work together to promote investment and business development opportunities, leading to potential benefits for U.S. and Brazilian workers and businesses. This is a milestone that will increase trade between our two nations, enhance the freedom and prosperity of the Brazilian people, and support jobs in both our countries."

"We have long collaborated on a wide variety of issues-and today, our nations are closer than ever," said Ambassador O'Brien. "In fact, I don't think we've had a better relationship with Brazil than the United States has today. Brazil saw today the signing with Minister Guedes and Chairman Reed of a Memorandum of Understanding to identify sectors for cooperative business development that will lead to another $1 billion in EXIM financing especially in the telecommunications area and the important 5G-a new modern telecommunications network that Brazil will have soon." 

EXIM Chairman Kimberly Reed and Brazil Minister of the Economy Paulo Guedes sign the MOU in a ceremony with (L-R) Ambassador Chapman, Ambassador O'Brien, President Bolsonaro, and Foreign Minister Araujo
EXIM Chairman Kimberly Reed and Brazil Minister of the Economy Paulo Guedes sign the MOU in a ceremony with (L-R) Ambassador Chapman, Ambassador O'Brien, President Bolsonaro, and Foreign Minister Araujo

Minister Guedes pointed that the agreement with EXIM "comes at the exact moment when our infrastructure, logistics, cabotage, mining, oil, natural gas, this entire investment horizon begins to be unlocked." According to the Minister, the agreement will be an important step towards trade facilitation and the convergence of regulatory frameworks. "In the first year and a half of our government, we focused on public spending and now we are opening up the investment horizons," he explained.

The MOU was signed during a U.S. delegation trip to Brazil, led by Ambassador O'Brien that focused on how the United States and Brazil can promote freedom, economic growth, jobs, and prosperity for both countries.

ABOUT EXIM:

EXIM is an independent federal agency that promotes and supports American jobs by providing competitive and necessary export credit to support sales of U.S. goods and services to international buyers. A robust EXIM can level the global playing field for U.S. exporters when they compete against foreign companies that receive support from their governments. EXIM also contributes to U.S. economic growth by helping to create and sustain hundreds of thousands of jobs in exporting businesses and their supply chains across the United States. In recent years, approximately 90 percent of the total number of the agency's authorizations has directly supported small businesses. Since 1992, EXIM has generated more than $9 billion for the U.S. Treasury for repayment of U.S. debt.

For more information about EXIM, please visit www.exim.gov.