Export-Import Bank of the U.S. Chair Lewis Touts Financing Tools for Critical Minerals Projects at Future Minerals Conference in Riyadh
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) President and Chair Reta Jo Lewis traveled to Riyadh, Saudia Arabia last week as part of the U.S. delegation, led by Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Resources Geoffrey Pyatt and Amos Hochstein, Deputy Assistant to the President and Senior Adviser for Energy and Investment, to the 2024 Future Minerals Forum. While in Riyadh, Chair Lewis delivered remarks and participated in meetings where she emphasized the role EXIM financing can play in supporting key critical minerals projects.
“Critical minerals are an essential component of global energy transition, and EXIM financing can make a significant impact in supporting U.S. exporters and manufacturers in this sector,” said EXIM President and Chair Reta Jo Lewis. “EXIM’s financing tools and world-class expertise in analyzing technical, legal, and financial risks in the mining and energy sectors can play an important role in helping projects – from mines to gigafactories – get off the ground. We are eager to support U.S. exporters and to promote diverse, secure, and sustainable battery supply chains.”
Last Tuesday, Chair Lewis participated in the 2024 Future Minerals Forum ministerial, where she emphasized EXIM’s commitment to advancing key critical minerals projects and building resilient and secure supply chains with government sector representatives. The Forum was attended by government representatives and minerals company executives from over 145 countries.
Last Wednesday, Chair Lewis exchanged a signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Saudi Export-Import Bank (Saudi EXIM) CEO Saad Bin Abdulaziz AlKhalb to facilitate the financing of U.S. exports to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The MOU will encourage collaboration between EXIM and Saudi EXIM as well as support exports in a variety of sectors, including climate and energy security, critical minerals projects, infrastructure, transportation, and digital technology. Chair Lewis also participated in a bilateral meeting with Saudi EXIM after the MOU exchange.
Chair Lewis also participated in a panel discussion during the Future Minerals Forum focused on reimaging global finance and driving minerals investment, where she delivered remarks on how EXIM’s financing tools can play a key role in bringing minerals projects into reality.
The success of EXIM’s visit to Riyadh was due in part to U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Michael Ratney and Her Royal Highness Princess Reema bint Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Ambassador to the United States. Learn more about EXIMs financing tools for critical minerals projects here.
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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