READOUT: Export-Import Bank of the United States President and Chair Highlights Opportunities for More Inclusive Export Finance, Touts U.S. Economic Leadership at World Economic Forum 2022 Annual Meeting
DAVOS, SWITZERLAND – Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) President and Chair Reta Jo Lewis today concluded her participation in the World Economic Forum 2022 Annual Meeting. At the international conference, Chair Lewis emphasized the need to build more inclusive trade and export finance programs, and she touted U.S. strategic priorities like energy security, supply chain resilience, and deeper commercial partnerships with values-aligned nations in the Indo-Pacific, Latin America, Eastern Europe and sub-Saharan Africa.
On Tuesday, Chair Lewis spoke as a panelist in a session focused on “human centered trade.” Alongside panelists from the Paris School of International Affairs, Sabanci Holdings, and Consumers International, Chair Lewis discussed ways to raise the quality of life for workers and families through more open, more accessible export finance programs like export credit.
“We have to have an economy that works for everyone, and we have to have trade that benefits everyone,” said Chair Lewis. She went on to highlight EXIM’s increasing support for minority- and women-owned business and her deep commitment to partnering with state and local leaders to reach new and non-traditional exporting communities.
While at the Annual Meeting, Chair Lewis reinforced the United States’ commitment to strengthening commercial ties with like-minded partners in Latin America and the Indo-Pacific. During a roundtable discussion with representatives from both regions, Chair Lewis highlighted EXIM’s work in the Indo-Pacific and previewed the upcoming Summit of the Americas that will be hosted in Los Angeles by President Biden. She also discussed potential opportunities for EXIM to support American companies on key projects in places like Honduras, the Caribbean, Brazil, and more.
Finally, Chair Lewis discussed clean energy, energy security, supply chain resilience and EXIM’s new Make More in America Initiative, and President Biden’s global infrastructure initiative during bilateral discussions with private and public sector leaders, primarily from sub-Saharan Africa and Eastern Europe. Notable engagements included President of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić, Director-General of the World Trade Organization Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Ukraine First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Yuliia Svyrydenko, Nigeria Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed, President of Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego Beata Daszyńska-Muzyczka, and leaders from Hanwha Energy, United Bank of Africa, Pfizer Biopharmaceuticals Group, Nielson Holdings, Paypal, BlackRock, and Standard Chartered Bank.
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.
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