EXIM Chairman Kimberly Reed Meets with Ohio Businesses on How Agency Can Help Boost State's Economy

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 7, 2019
Media Contact Name/Phone
Kristin Rudman (202) 565-3201

Washington, D.C. - Kimberly A. Reed, president and chairman of the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM), met with representatives from businesses today in Columbus, Ohio, to learn about the challenges they encounter in competing in the global economy. Chairman Reed led the small business event at The Ohio State University's Fisher College of Business in Columbus. Reed, who was introduced by Fisher College's Dean Anil Makhija, informed participants how EXIM can help Ohio's companies, both large and small, grow through the export of "Made in the USA" goods and services.

Participating in the event were representatives of Ohio-based small businesses, banks, academia, and a variety of industries and associations, including from The Huntington National Bank, located in Columbus, which was named EXIM's "Lender of the Year" in March 2019. Also participating was EXIM Advisory Committee Member Richard Rogovin, chairman and general counsel of U.S. Bridge of Cambridge, O.H. Officials from the offices of Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) and Joyce Beatty (D-OH 3rd District) also attended.

"The Export-Import Bank of the United States is more critical than ever to small businesses," said EXIM President and Chairman Reed. "The purpose of today's meeting is to make sure Ohio businesses know that EXIM is here to partner with them to help grow their businesses and create American jobs through the export of U.S.-made products overseas. In the past five years, EXIM has supported more than $1 billion in exports from 200 companies across this state. President Trump is committed to small business, and as the newly confirmed chairman of EXIM, I am deeply committed to fulfilling EXIM's congressional mandate to assist small businesses across the country so that they can grow and prosper to the benefit of our economy and workers, including here in Ohio."

Reed added, "Last year, more than 90 percent of the number of EXIM's authorizations supported small businesses. We want America's small businesses to know we can assist as they compete for and win deals around the world.

EXIM provides a portfolio of small business solutions for U.S. businesses, including export credit insurance to minimize financial risk and improve cash flow, working capital guarantees to provide credit lines for producing goods and services, and term financing to support international buyers in purchasing American capital goods and services.

ABOUT EXIM BANK:

EXIM is an independent federal agency that promotes and supports American jobs by providing competitive and necessary export credit to overseas purchasers of U.S. goods and services. A robust EXIM can level the global playing field for U.S. exporters when they compete against foreign companies that receive support from their governments. EXIM also contributes to U.S. economic growth by helping to create and sustain hundreds of thousands of jobs in businesses that export and their supply chains across the United States. In recent years, 90 percent of the total number of the agency's authorizations has directly supported small businesses.

For more information about EXIM, please visit www.exim.gov.