News

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Export Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) held the first meeting of its 2005 Advisory Committee today with a focus on building stronger alliances with the private sector to promote U.S. exports.

There are many companies that have not used our products, which can benefit from our export financing, Ex-Im Bank Chairman Philip Merrill said. I am very much interested in - and committed to - meeting their needs and developing a partnership with these companies. I look forward to the committee's discussions and recommendations on how to augment our relationships with America's businesses.

Now in its 22nd year, the Congressionally-mandated Advisory Committee helps Ex-Im Bank review policies and programs by providing input from various sectors of the economy. This year's Committee has four new members and 11 returning members. The Committee holds quarterly meetings to examine Ex-Im Bank's programs and make recommendations for enhancing service and value. Meetings are tentatively scheduled for May 31 and Sept. 27.

The members of the fiscal 2005 Committee and the sectors they represent are as follows (starred names indicate new members):

CHAIRMAN - STEPHEN G. CANTON
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
iCore Advisory Services
Washington, DC
Representing Services

*SUSAN AU ALLEN
National President and CEO
US Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce
Washington, DC
Representing Small Business

*DANIEL W. CHRISTMAN
Senior Vice President-International Affairs Division
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Washington, DC
Representing Commerce

VALENTINO GALLO
Managing Director and Global Manager, Structured Trade Finance, Investment Banking Division
Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
New York, NY
Representing Finance

KAREN P. GIBBS
Co-anchor of Wall $treet Week with FORTUNE
Maryland Public Television
Owings Mills, MD
Representing Finance

HARRY G. HAYMAN, III
Senior Vice President and Group Head, Global Services and Strategic Partners
PNC Bank
Philadelphia, PA
Representing Finance

OWEN E. HERRNSTADT
Director, International Affairs
International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers
Upper Marlboro, MD
Representing Labor

THEA LEE
Assistant Director for International Economics
Public Policy Department
AFL-CIO
Washington, DC
Representing Labor

*LINUS B. LOSH
Consultant - Conservation and Environmental Planning
Westerville, OH
Representing Agriculture

MARGARITA A. MORALES-PEREZ
Chief Financial Officer
MD International, Inc.
Miami, FL
Representing Small Business

LINO J. PIEDRA
Executive Vice President
Griesinger Associates, Inc.
Washington, DC
Representing Services

LT. GOVERNOR MICHAEL S. STEELE
State of Maryland
Annapolis, MD
Representing State Government

MICHAEL W. STODDARD
Managing Director and President
Trade Source International
Pasadena, CA
Representing Finance

DANIEL H. WALTERS
Manager, Global Accounts Division
Caterpillar Financial Services Corporation
Nashville, TN
Representing Production

*JAMES F. WILFONG
President
TradeNex
Fryeburg, ME
Representing Small Business

Ex-Im Bank this year marks its 71st year of helping finance the sale of U.S. exports, primarily to emerging markets throughout the world, by providing loan guarantees, export credit insurance, and direct loans. In fiscal year 2004, Ex-Im Bank, an independent federal agency, authorized financing to support approximately $17.8 billion in U.S. exports worldwide, a 25% jump from a year earlier. For more information on Ex-Im Bank visit http://www.exim.gov .