Export-Import Bank of the U.S. Chair Reta Jo Lewis Meets Prime Minister Rowley to Underscore Support for U.S. Exporters in Trinidad and Tobago
Port of Spain, Trinidad – Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) President and Chair Reta Jo Lewis traveled to Trinidad and Tobago last week to meet with government representatives and private sector leaders alongside U.S. Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago Candace Bond to highlight the role EXIM financing can play in supporting U.S. exporters doing business in the region.
“It was a pleasure to travel to Trinidad and Tobago to underscore that EXIM is deeply committed to working in a whole of government approach to bolster the strong commercial and economic relationship between our two nations,” said Chair Lewis. “EXIM’s financing tools can play an important role in not only supporting U.S. exporters as they compete in Trinidad and Tobago, but they can also support efforts to advance our mutual goals in key sectors like renewable energy and maritime security.”
Chair Lewis began her visit to Trinidad by meeting with Ambassador Candace Bond, where they discussed opportunities for U.S. exporters to compete and win transactions in Trinidad and Tobago. On Tuesday, Chair Lewis and Ambassador Bond met with Prime Minister Keith Rowley and cabinet ministers to discuss a whole of government approach to deepen cooperation in key sectors. Chair Lewis also signed a US$500 million Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago with Minister of Finance and the Economy Colm Imbert to develop opportunities and support financing in the maritime domain awareness, cybersecurity, renewable energy, and water sanitation sectors. Minister Imbert received US$150 million Letter of Interest (LoI) to support procurement in the maritime and cybersecurity sectors.
Chair Lewis and Ambassador Bond also met with Minister of National Security Fitzgerald Hinds, where they underscored how EXIM financing can reaffirm the strong U.S.-Trinidad and Tobago commercial partnership and discuss financing opportunities in the maritime and cybersecurity sectors.
On Thursday, Chair Lewis traveled to the island of Tobago, where she and Ambassador Bond held meetings with Tobago House of Assembly Chief Secretary Farley Augustine and President of the Tobago Hotel and Tourism Association Christopher James, where they highlighted how EXIM financing can bolster commercial ties between the U.S. and Tobago. Chair Lewis and Ambassador Bond also met with Tobago House of Assembly Secretary of Tourism, Culture, Antiquities and Transportation Tashia Burris, where they spoke about engaging with the Tobago diaspora community and supporting companies involved in the tourism and transportation infrastructure sectors.
On Friday, Chair Lewis traveled back to Port of Spain where she concluded her visit by joining a roundtable discussion with AmCham of Trinidad and Tobago, where she highlighted EXIM’s strong interest in supporting U.S. exporters and their customers in the region.
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. Learn more at www.exim.gov.
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