Export-Import Bank of the United States President and Chair Reta Jo Lewis Kicks Off 2022 Berne Union Spring Meeting, Signs Co-Financing Agreement with Bpifrance
WASHINGTON – Yesterday, Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) President and Chair Reta Jo Lewis kicked off the agency’s participation at the 2022 Berne Union Spring Meeting alongside fellow leaders from export credit agencies around the world. The committee meeting, chaired by EXIM Vice President for Policy Analysis and International Relations Isabel Galdiz and hosted in Istanbul, Turkey, is the first in-person gathering of the Berne Union’s export credit members since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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| Director, International Relations, Business Development, Rating and Environment Maeli Dufour of BPI France and EXIM President and Chair Reta Jo Lewis signed an agreement at Berne Union Spring Meeting |
At the discussion, Chair Lewis highlighted the importance of economic security and finding opportunities to bring American solutions and U.S. jobs to pressing global economic challenges. She also reiterated the United States’ commitment to the people of Ukraine and EXIM’s leadership in officially closing for business in Russia.
Following the day one session, EXIM signed a co-financing agreement with France’s export agency, Bpifrance, this morning. The commitment renews a previous framework originally put in place in 2008 with Bpifrance’s predecessor agency. The agreement will open new avenues to partner on projects in key sectors like renewable energy and help to support a “one-stop shop” for possible co-financed transactions.
“I am thrilled to have EXIM back in person as a leader at the Berne Union and excited to enter into this co-financing agreement with Bpifrance,” said EXIM President Reta Jo Lewis. “France is America’s oldest ally, and we hope this renewed agreement will spur greater exports from companies in our two nations and strengthen the competitiveness of our two agencies, especially in sectors critical to our economic security.”
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.