News

Government and industry leaders will offer global trade perspectives to U.S. exporters, financiers and foreign dignitaries attending the Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) annual conference April 22-23, 2003, at the Omni Shoreham Hotel, Washington, D.C.

On Tuesday, April 22, Ex-Im Bank Chairman Philip Merrill will deliver opening remarks, followed by a CEO Panel offering views on Global Competition and the American Exporter by J.W. Marriott, Jr., Marriott Corporation; Bill O'Shea, Bell Labs; David Weber, Wells Fargo Trade HSBC; Natarajan Kumar, Cornet Technology Inc.; and Tom Donohue, U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The dialogue will be moderated by Karen Gibbs, co-anchor of Wall $treet Week with FORTUNE. U.S. Trade Representative Robert B. Zoellick, the Bush Administration's top trade policy official and chief trade negotiator, will address the conference at 10:30 a.m.

SBA Administrator Hector Barreto will speak at a luncheon awards ceremony where Ex-Im Bank will honor three companies for their contributions to U.S. small business exports and job growth: the 2003 Small Business Exporter of the Year Award; the 2003 Small Business Bank of the Year award; and the 2003 Small Business (insurance) Broker of the Year Award.

At 3 p.m. Tuesday, Ex-Im Bank Chairman Philip Merrill will offer a media availability in the Presidential Board Room at the Omni Shoreham.

On Wednesday, April 23, Congressman Michael G. Oxley of Ohio (R-Fourth District), chairman of the new House Committee on Financial Services, will address the conference at 9 a.m.

The two-day meeting also will feature a trade show of more than 50 exhibits of U.S. export and financing products and services, including a GE wind turbine, and a preview of Ex-Im Bank's redesigned customer-friendly web site.

An array of workshops and seminars on Ex-Im Bank financing programs and foreign markets will brief participants on, among other things: opportunities in sub-Saharan African markets, government agency cooperation to promote U.S. exports to China, Russia and Brazil; Ex-Im Bank programs to assist small and medium enterprises, and financing for international environment and energy projects.

CONFERENCE AGENDA

Tuesday, April 22, 2003

9:00 a.m. Welcome: Ex-Im Bank Chairman Merrill

9:15 a.m. CEO Dialogue: Global Competition and the American Exporter

Moderator: Karen Gibbs

Co-Anchor, Wall $treet Week with FORTUNE

Panelists:Tom Donohue

President & CEO, U.S. Chamber of Commerce

J.W. Marriott, Jr.

Chairman & CEO, Marriott International, Inc.

Natarajan Kumar

President & CEO, Cornet Technology Inc.

David J. Weber

President & CEO, Wells Fargo HSBC Trade Bank

William O'Shea, President, Bell Labs

10:30- 11 a.m. Remarks by USTR Ambassador Robert B. Zoellick

11:30- 12:30 a.m. Workshops and Seminars
(complete schedule available at www.exim.gov)

12:45 - 2:15 p.m. Luncheon
Remarks by Hector Barreto, SBA Administrator

Presentation of Ex-Im Bank Small Busi