TREASURY AND COMMERCE SECRETARIES, FORMER CPA OFFICIAL FOLEY, HIGHLIGHT EX-IM BANK ANNUAL CONFERENCE APRIL 29-30 IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 26, 2004
Media Contact Name/Phone
Marianna Ohe (202) 565-3200
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Government and business leaders will address global trade issues and opportunities with more than 1,000 U.S. exporters, financiers and foreign dignitaries attending the Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) annual conference April 29-30, 2004, at the Omni Shoreham Hotel, Washington, D.C.

On Thursday, April 29, Ex-Im Bank Chairman Philip Merrill will deliver opening remarks at 9 a.m followed by a keynote address by Treasury Secretary John Snow, who will discuss the U.S. role in global trade and Bush Administration efforts to support U.S. exports. Secretary of Commerce Donald Evans will deliver a luncheon keynote address on the importance of exports to the U.S. economy at 12:30 p.m.

A luncheon awards ceremony will honor six companies for their contributions to U.S. small business exports and job growth: the 2004 Small Business Exporter of the Year award; the 2003 Bank of the Year award; the 2003 Broker of the Year award, and, for the first time, two Regional Bank of the Year awards and one Regional Broker of the Year award.

On Friday, April 30,Thomas Foley, former Director of Private Sector Development for the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA), will review economic prospects in Iraq in a keynote addresses 9 a.m., followed by a news briefing at approximately 9:45 a.m. Foley's address and news briefing will be followed by two workshops on procurement and trade finance opportunities in Iraq.

Throughout both days of the conference, panels will feature topics including global liquid natural gas (LNG) market opportunities, SE and Central Europe infrastructure financing, opportunities in the Middle East, and the U.S.-Africa commercial relationship. Workshops will explain new Ex-Im Bank financing products and programs.

The two-day meeting also will have a Global Marketplace exhibit featuring pavilions representing world regions where Ex-Im Bank staff will describe how to tap export opportunities, and booths where exporters, lenders and government entities will display export and financing products and services.

Ex-Im Bank this year marks its 70th year of helping finance the sale of U.S. exports, primarily to emerging markets throughout the world, by providing loan guarantees, export credit insurance, and direct loans. In fiscal year 2003, Ex-Im Bank, an independent federal agency, authorized financing to support $14.3 billion of U.S. exports worldwide. For more information on Ex-Im Bank, visit www.exim.gov. See the full conference agenda at (pages expired).