The directors of the Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) have named eight new members, and two returning members, to the Ex-Im Bank Sub-Saharan Africa Advisory Committee (SAAC). The committee, established once again by act of Congress in its 2007 reauthorization of Ex-Im Bank, provides expert guidance to the Bank in developing policies to strengthen Bank support of U.S. exports to Africa.

Chairing the committee this year will be returning member Dennis Dubois, senior vice president and director of International Trade Banking, Global Solutions Group, Sovereign Bank, Boston, Mass. Also returning is Mark E. Chiaviello, a director at Standard Bank Group, Ltd., New York, N.Y., Africa's largest financial institution, where he is responsible for promoting foreign direct investment, trading relationships and donor flows from the United States to Africa.

Newly appointed members are: Vernon D. Darko, president and CEO of EquipXp, LC, Houston, Tex.; Bruce Fullerton, president, Africair, Inc., Miami, Fla.; Ambassador Joseph Huggins, founder, president and chief executive officer of The Huggins Group (THG), Fairfax, Va., and former U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Botswana; Wayne A. Ramus, vice president, GE Capital Markets Corporate, based with GE Healthcare, Waukesha, Wisc.; Angela L. Rankin, credit manager, Electrolux Major Appliances - International Division, Pittsburgh, Pa.; David M. Roebuck, PE, president and co-founder of Armentrout Roebuck Matheny Consulting Group, Athens, Ga.; Marysue K. Shore, president, Global Business Strategies, Washington, D.C.; and Bert Ubamadu, managing director, Fairmont Capital Strategy Group LLC, Washington, D.C.

Meetings of the Sub-Saharan Africa Advisory Committee are open to the public.

Sub-Saharan Africa is a priority region for the Bank.  Based on its Congressional mandate, Ex-Im Bank is pursuing new initiatives to expand financing support of U.S. manufactured goods and services to the region.

You may subscribe, free, to receive news releases and other electronic publications regarding Ex-Im Bank's activities related to Africa, and other topics, by clicking here.

Last Updated: November 30, 2007