News

Dan Renberg, a Member of the Board of Directors of the Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank), and U.S. Representative Bob Goodlatte, who represents Virginia's 6th Congressional district, which includes the Roanoke Valley, on Wednesday, January 17, 2001, will visit the headquarters of Water Matic International, a Roanoke small business that has successfully tapped into the global market through exports, using Ex-Im Bank assistance. They will be meeting with Water Matic's Executive Vice President, Sylvia Kifer, to learn more about the export challenges faced by area businesses.

Water Matic, which manufactures and sells specialized vacuum cleaners to Japan, has used Ex-Im Bank's short-term insurance since 1992. The company, which was founded in 1976, has increased its annual export volumes financed through Ex-Im Bank by more than 200 percent during the last three years.

Mr. Renberg is visiting the Roanoke Valley at the invitation of Congressman Goodlatte. He will also meet with local businesses who are interested in increasing export sales from the Roanoke Valley. The visit, which is being organized by the Virginia Economic Development Partnership and is open to the press, will be on Wednesday, January 17, 2001, at 9:30 a.m. Water Matic is at 3348 Salem Turnpike, N.W., Roanoke, Virginia. Renberg also will deliver a keynote address at the International Trade Association monthly luncheon.

Ex-Im Bank is an independent U.S. government agency that assists in financing the export of U.S. goods and services by providing loans, loan guarantees, and export credit insurance.