Export-Import Bank of the U.S. Chair Lewis Signs $500 Million Memorandum of Understanding with the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago
Port of Spain, Trinidad, June 18, 2024 – Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) President and Chair Reta Jo Lewis met with Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister Keith Rowley and signed a US$500 million Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago with Minister of Finance and the Economy Colm Imbert. The MOU will develop opportunities and support financing in the maritime domain awareness, cybersecurity, renewable energy, and water sanitation sectors.
“The Export-Import Bank of the United States is committed to building relationships with our partners in the Caribbean and we are so pleased to sign this MOU that will deepen our commercial ties and allow us to collaborate on key initiatives,” said Chair Lewis. “I am also pleased to provide the Ministry of Finance with a $150 million Letter of Interest to finance maritime vessels and aircraft in support of its maritime operations. This equipment will increase the country’s maritime domain awareness, search and rescue, and border security.”
EXIM is proud to work with Trinidad and Tobago in support of the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to advance cooperation with Caribbean nations.
In response to this initiative, the Minister of Finance of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, Hon. Colm Imbert, MP, remarked, “This US$500 million US Eximbank Financing Facility is a great show of confidence in the government and people of Trinidad and Tobago. It significantly deepens and strengthens our relationship with our greatest trading partner and one of our strongest and oldest allies. It will allow us to readily access US-manufactured goods and services, together with technical support, for many of our needs, including specialized equipment and systems for national security, such as for patrol vessels, patrol aircraft and cybersecurity, as well as renewable energy systems, assistance in dealing with climate change, support for small business and so on. We are truly gratified that the US Government has decided to partner with our country in such a meaningful way.”
U.S. Ambassador Candace Bond said, “This MOU is one more tangible result of Prime Minister Rowley’s engagement in Washington, DC earlier this year. It is another key deliverable that the Biden-Harris Administration is bringing home to Trinidad and Tobago, and yet more evidence of the enduring bond between our two great countries and that no one delivers to the Caribbean more effectively or more strongly than the United States of America.”
EXIM will continue to hold meetings with government officials and private sector representatives to foster commercial ties during a visit to the island of Tobago later this week.
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. Learn more at www.exim.gov.
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