New Members Named to Ex Im Bank Sub Saharan Africa Advisory Committee

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 18, 2010
Media Contact Name/Phone
Marianna Ohe (202) 565-3200

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The board of directors of the Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) has approved nine new members, and one returning member, to the Ex-Im Bank sub-Saharan Africa Advisory Committee (SAAC). The committee, established by act of Congress, provides expert guidance in developing policies to strengthen Bank support of U.S. exports to Africa.

Chairing the committee this year will be new member Darius Mans, president of Africare, Washington, D.C., and former Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Millennium Challenge Corporation.

The other newly appointed members are: Pamela L. Carter, president of Cummins Distribution, Columbus, Ind.; Maureen A. Harrington, director, Corporate and Investment Banking group, Standard Bank of South Africa, New York, N.Y.; Stephen H. Hirsch, vice president for Project Development, Geothermal Development Associates, Reno, Nev.; Todd J. Moss, vice president for corporate affairs and senior fellow, Center for Global Development, Washington, D.C.; Ihssane Mounir, vice president of sales for Latin America, Africa and the Caribbean, Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Seattle, Wash.; Ambassador Robert C. Perry, vice president, Corporate Council on Africa, Washington, D.C., former U.S. ambassador to the Central African Republic; Witney Schneidman, principal of Schneidman & Associates International, Washington, D.C.; and Diane M. Willkens, founder, CEO and president of Development Finance International, Inc., Bethesda, MD.

Returning for a third term is Vernon D. Darko, president and CEO of EquipXP, LC, Houston, Texas.

We are grateful to these committee members, who volunteer their expertise and time to help Ex-Im Bank strengthen its support of job-creating U.S. exports to sub-Saharan Africa, said Ex-Im Bank Chairman and President Fred P. Hochberg.

The SAAC's next scheduled meeting is April 21, 2010 at the Bank's headquarters in Washington, D.C. The meeting is open to the public.

Ex-Im Bank is the official export-credit agency of the United States. The independent, self-sustaining federal agency has for over 75 years helped to create and maintain U.S. jobs by financing the sales of U.S. exports, primarily to emerging markets throughout the world, by providing loan guarantees, export-credit insurance and direct loans. In fiscal year 2009, Ex-Im Bank set a record, authorizing more than $21 billion in support of U.S. exports to help ease tightened liquidity during the economic crisis.

In fiscal year 2009, Ex-Im Bank authorized $380 million in export-credit insurance and guarantees, and $32 million in working capital guarantees, to support U.S. exports to sub-Saharan African markets. For more information visit www.exim.gov.