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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
APRIL 18, 2003
Contact: Marianna Ohe (202) 565-3200

U.S. TRADE REP. ZOELLICK, REP. OXLEY OF OHIO, CEO PANEL HIGHLIGHT
EX-IM BANK 2003 ANNUAL CONFERENCE APRIL 22-23 IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

Government and industry leaders will offer global trade perspectives to U.S. exporters, financiers and foreign dignitaries attending the Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) annual conference April 22-23, 2003, at the Omni Shoreham Hotel, Washington, D.C.

On Tuesday, April 22, Ex-Im Bank Chairman Philip Merrill will deliver opening remarks, followed by a CEO Panel offering views on "Global Competition and the American Exporter by J.W. Marriott, Jr., Marriott Corporation;  Bill O'Shea, Bell Labs;  David Weber, Wells Fargo Trade HSBC;  Natarajan Kumar, Cornet Technology Inc.;  and Tom Donohue, U.S. Chamber of Commerce.  The dialogue will be moderated by Karen Gibbs, co-anchor of Wall $treet Week with FORTUNE.   U.S. Trade Representative Robert B. Zoellick, the Bush Administration's top trade policy official and chief trade negotiator, will address the conference at 10:30 a.m. 

SBA Administrator Hector Barreto will speak at a luncheon awards ceremony where    Ex-Im Bank will honor three companies for their contributions to U.S. small business exports and job growth: the 2003 Small Business Exporter of the Year Award;  the 2003 Small Business Bank of the Year award; and the 2003 Small Business (insurance) Broker of the Year Award.

At 3 p.m. Tuesday, Ex-Im Bank Chairman Philip Merrill will offer a media availability in the Presidential Board Room at the Omni Shoreham.

On Wednesday, April 23, Congressman Michael G. Oxley of Ohio (R-Fourth District), chairman of the new House Committee on Financial Services, will address the conference at 9 a.m.

The two-day meeting also will feature a "trade show" of more than 50 exhibits of U.S. export and financing products and services, including a GE wind turbine, and a preview of Ex-Im Bank's redesigned customer-friendly web site.

An array of workshops and seminars on Ex-Im Bank financing programs and foreign markets will brief participants on, among other things: opportunities in sub-Saharan African markets, government agency cooperation to promote U.S. exports to China, Russia and Brazil;  Ex-Im Bank programs to assist small and medium enterprises, and financing for international environment and energy projects.

CONFERENCE AGENDA

Tuesday, April 22, 2003

9:00 a.m.                    Welcome:  Ex-Im Bank Chairman Merrill 

9:15 a.m.                    CEO Dialogue:   "Global Competition and the American Exporter"

                                 Moderator:   Karen Gibbs

                                                               Co-Anchor, Wall $treet Week with FORTUNE

     Panelists:    Tom Donohue

   President & CEO, U.S. Chamber of Commerce

    J.W. Marriott, Jr.

   Chairman & CEO, Marriott International, Inc.

    Natarajan Kumar

    President & CEO, Cornet Technology Inc.

    David J. Weber

    President & CEO, Wells Fargo HSBC Trade Bank

    William O'Shea, President, Bell Labs

10:30 - 11 a.m.        Remarks by USTR Ambassador Robert B. Zoellick

11:30 - 12:30 a.m.   Workshops and Seminars
(complete schedule available at www.exim.gov)

12:45  - 2:15 p.m.    Luncheon
Remarks by Hector Barreto, SBA Administrator

Presentation of Ex-Im Bank Small Business Awards

2:30  - 5:00 p.m.      Workshops and Seminars

3:00 p.m.                 Media availability:     Ex-Im Bank Chairman Philip Merrill

                                                                        Presidential Board Room                                                                                                                                       
Wednesday, April 23, 2003

9:00 - 9:45 a.m.        Remarks by Congressman Michael G. Oxley (R-Ohio)

11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Workshops and Seminars

1:00 - 2:30 p.m.         Luncheon

2:30 p.m.                   Conference adjourns