READOUT: Export-Import Bank of the United States Chair Reta Jo Lewis Meets with Delegations from Bulgaria and Lithuania
WASHINGTON – Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) President and Chair Reta Jo Lewis and senior staff welcomed delegations from Bulgaria and Lithuania in recent days.
Chair Lewis met with a delegation from Lithuania yesterday morning, led by Minister of Finance Gintarė Skaistė. The Monday meeting was a follow-up to an EXIM delegation visit in Vilnius, Lithuania in January. Chair Lewis reaffirmed EXIM’s support of Lithuania as a NATO ally given the horrific Russian aggression in Ukraine and as it faces economic pressure from China. The meeting also provided an opportunity to continue the collaboration and strengthen the momentum of the $600 million memorandum of understanding that was signed in November 2021. Both parties discussed potential sectors for EXIM-supported trade between the United States and Lithuania that addresses shared priorities like clean and renewable energy, advanced manufacturing, and small businesses.
Last Friday, Chair Lewis welcomed a delegation from Bulgaria led by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Asen Vasilev. Chair Lewis repeated EXIM’s commitment to the Biden-Harris Administration’s whole-of-government approach to ensuring U.S. goods and services are part of commercial diplomatic efforts between countries. The discussion focused on identifying opportunities for small businesses in both countries to partner in expanding the economic relationship.
Throughout both meetings Chair Lewis emphasized EXIM’s commitment to quickening the transition to clean and renewable sources of energy. Chair Lewis also reemphasized that EXIM is open for business and eager to continue helping America’s small businesses, especially in key supply chain networks.
ABOUT EXIM:
The Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) is the nation’s official export credit agency with the mission of supporting American jobs by facilitating U.S. exports. To advance American competitiveness and assist U.S. businesses as they compete for global sales, EXIM offers financing including export credit insurance, working capital guarantees, loan guarantees, and direct loans. As an independent federal agency, EXIM contributes to U.S. economic growth by supporting tens of thousands of jobs in exporting businesses and their supply chains across the United States. Since 1992, EXIM has generated more than $9 billion for the U.S. Treasury for repayment of U.S. debt. Learn more at www.exim.gov.