News

WASHINGTON - Global Business Solutions (GBS), a woman-owned export risk mitigation firm headquartered in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, has been named Broker of the Year by the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) for its exemplary service and commitment to small business exporters. The company was honored during EXIM's 2020 Annual Conference, the largest conference in the agency's history, which is being held virtually September 9-11.

A small business established in 2004, GBS became a registered EXIM broker in 2006, specializing in export credit insurance and risk mitigation. In 2019, under the leadership of GBS President Kathy Edwards, the company registered one of the highest percentage increases in EXIM authorizations by amount among all brokers, and its EXIM portfolio of business had the highest percentage of small businesses.

"EXIM's broker partners play a critical role in supporting small business exporters, and we are pleased to honor the exemplary service and commitment demonstrated by Global Business Solutions," said EXIM President and Chairman Kimberly A. Reed. "We at EXIM look forward to continuing to work with them, and the entire broker community, to support America's small businesses as they export their 'Made in the USA' goods and services worldwide."

GBS President Edwards, an active member of the North Carolina District Export Council, is committed to partnering with clients so their businesses can grow globally with minimal risk. GBS was previously honored as EXIM Broker of the Year in 2011.

"Global Business Solutions is honored to have been selected a second time as EXIM's Broker of the Year," said GBS President Edwards. "As a former exporter and banker, we realize the tremendous benefit EXIM provides to businesses of all sizes. Our committed 16-year partnership with EXIM has enabled us to assist countless firms increase sales, add jobs, and grow their businesses through export while minimizing risk of nonpayment and increasing availability to capital. We look forward to continuing this important partnership with EXIM for many years to come."

Export credit insurance accounts for the majority of EXIM's authorizations, most of which is distributed by insurance brokers like GBS. These brokers provide industry and product expertise that ensures their exporting customers obtain the most appropriate coverage at the most affordable price.

U.S. companies, particularly small businesses, can utilize EXIM's financing tools and resources to increase their international sales, showcase their "Made in the USA" products, and sustain American jobs. By partnering with EXIM, exporters can mitigate the risk of nonpayment on international sales, offer credit terms to foreign buyers, and access working capital loan guarantees. In addition, EXIM has implemented several COVID-19 (coronavirus) relief measures for U.S. exporters and financial institutions to enhance the agency's existing programs.

ABOUT EXIM:

EXIM is an independent federal agency that promotes and supports American jobs by providing competitive and necessary export credit to support sales of U.S. goods and services to international buyers. 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 exporting businesses and their supply chains across the United States. In recent years, approximately 90 percent of the total number of the agency's authorizations has directly supported small businesses. Since 1992, EXIM has generated more than $9 billion for the U.S. Treasury for repayment of U.S. debt. 

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