Export-Import Bank of the United States Chair Reta Jo Lewis Discusses EXIM Priorities at State Department Critical Minerals Roundtable; Delivers Remarks During UNGA Clean Energy Events 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 20, 2023
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New York, NY-- Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) President and Chair Reta Jo Lewis is in New York this week addressing key audiences and holding meetings alongside the 78th United Nations General Assembly. On Monday, Chair Lewis addressed a “Critical Minerals and Spurring Investment in the Clean Energy Transition,” roundtable hosted by U.S. State Department Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy and the Environment, Jose W. Fernandez, alongside Special Representative for Global Partnerships, Dorothy McAuliffe, and Ambassador and Assistant Secretary, Geoffrey Pyatt, as well as the non-profit SAFE CEO Robbie Diamond. The event was attended by senior representatives from industry and finance. Chair Lewis highlighted EXIM’s commitment to supporting U.S. exporters looking to pursue transactions in the critical minerals sector.

“It is a privilege to be in New York this week to meet with government and private sector partners to hold important conversations on the role EXIM can play in advancing American economic competitiveness,” said EXIM Chair Reta Jo Lewis. “Critical minerals are an important part of the global energy transition, and our agency is committed to supporting projects in this sector. We have had outstanding discussions and I look forward to forging new partnerships as we continue to meet our mission and support U.S. exporters and the jobs they create.”

This discussion builds on last year’s meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, where Chair Lewis attended a multilateral discussion alongside Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Under Secretary Fernandez with 20 partner nations on the Minerals Security Partnership (MSP).

On Monday, Chair Lewis attended a roundtable hosted by the Japan Society President and CEO Dr. Joshua Walker to discuss EXIM’s efforts to support American exporters and help strengthen the U.S.-Japan commercial relationship. 

Chair Lewis also participated in a panel during the Concordia Annual Summit alongside Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Republic of Panama Janaina Tewaney Mencomo and Siemens USA CEO Barbara Humpton. She then spoke about EXIM’s commitment to advancing renewable energy transactions at an event hosted by the Business Council for International Understanding alongside Nuveen CFO Seun Salami. Chair Lewis also took part in a roundtable during the Clinton Global Initiative September meeting focused on unlocking financing for health, climate and sustainable development goals. 

On Tuesday, Chair Lewis addressed audiences at two events hosted by the Atlantic Council. The first was co-hosted by Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation and focused on nuclear energy, and the second was focused on digital infrastructure in Africa, where she shared with attendees that EXIM wanted to work with them in this sector. She also met with Islamic Development Bank President and Chairman Dr. Muhammad Sulaiman al-Jasser to discuss potential opportunities for U.S. exporters in the member countries where EXIM is open for business.

Later, Chair Lewis spoke about EXIM’s efforts to advance renewable energy transactions and ongoing work to strengthen the U.S.-India commercial relationship during a U.S.-India Strategic Partnership Forum on clean energy, hosted at the Consulate General of India in New York with Consul General Randhir Jaiswal.

Chair posing in front of sign


People meeting
India's climate leadership meeting

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.

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