Export-Import Bank of the U.S. Chair Lewis Seeks Partnership with Biotech Industry
New York City, New York – Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) President and Chair of the Board Reta Jo Lewis reiterated EXIM’s desire to partner with the biotech industry in remarks last week during an event sponsored by BioMADE and the Global Partnerships Forum, “Building the U.S. Bioeconomy: An Intimate Dialogue with Business and Civil Society Leaders,” led by Dr. Douglas Friedman, Chief Executive Officer of BioMADE, and moderated by Amir Dossal, Founder and President of the Global Partnerships Forum.
The discussion built on previous conversations with industry leaders, including at BioMADE’s Member Meeting in Minneapolis in May 2024 when Chair Lewis met with Dr. Friedman and elected officials, as well as a Senate roundtable in April convened to discuss bioindustrial manufacturing as a foundational piece to the U.S. economy and a priority of the Biden-Harris Administration. Chair Lewis shared at the investors dialogue how EXIM’s China and Transformational Exports Program (CTEP) allows EXIM to provide financing to help American companies compete against China. Another tool discussed is the Make More in America Initiative (MMIA), a domestic financing program that allows EXIM to provide direct loans to support American businesses, especially those in the biotechnology field, by providing additional sources of patient capital that “crowd in” with private sector investments.
These EXIM mandates help American companies stay competitive in the industry, an essential component of America’s economic and national security.
“I enjoyed meeting with so many industry leaders and appreciate the opportunity to share all the ways that the Export-Import Bank of the United States can provide financing tools to help grow the U.S. bioeconomy,” said Chair Lewis. “We have a unique opportunity to create partnerships with the private sector to scale the next generation of bio-produced commodity products.”
“As the biomanufacturing industry grows, exporting innovative American-made products around the world will be a natural next step,” said Dr. Douglas Friedman, BioMADE CEO. “Right now, the U.S. has an opportunity to be a world leader in the manufacturing of textiles, chemicals, building materials, and more – all through biology. We appreciated the opportunity to highlight the incredible work of our members and this industry to the Export-Import Bank of the United States.”
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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