News Release : EX-IM BANK ANNOUNCES MEMBERS OF 2002 SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA ADVISORY COMMITTEE

EX-IM BANK ANNOUNCES MEMBERS OF 2002 SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Expert Panel Convenes First Meeting May 23

The Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) today held the first meeting of its 2002 sub-Saharan Africa Advisory Committee. The sub-Saharan Africa Advisory Committee members provide expert guidance to Ex-Im Bank for use in developing policies to further strengthen its support of U.S. exports to Africa. Robert L. Wright, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Dimensions International, Inc., Alexandria, Va., will chair the 2002 committee.

The SAAC represents various sectors of the U.S. economy that have experience doing business in Africa. The members of the 2002 Committee and the sectors they represent are as follow:

CHAIR - ROBERT L. WRIGHT Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Dimensions International, Inc. Alexandria, VA Representing Commerce	BARBARA W. GOTHARD-THOMPSON Global Public Policy Leader The Dow Chemical Company Washington, DC Representing Commerce
FREDRIC S. BERGER Senior Vice President The Louis Berger Group, Inc. Washington, DC Representing Commerce	DAVE KUNTARICH Vice President-Operations Team Leader-Africa Team PS International, Ltd. Chapel Hill, NC Representing Small Business
RALPH L. CWERMAN Senior Vice President Solar Outdoor Lighting, Inc. New York, NY Representing Commerce	PAUL PIRROTTA Sr. Vice President and Manager, International Banking Webster Bank Hartford, CT Representing Banking/Trade Finance
LAMINE SAVADOGO President Marison International Corporation Boston, MA Representing Commerce PETER S. SWAIN Vice President-Financial Institutions Division Riggs Bank, N.A. Washington, DC Representing Banking JOSEPH F. WATTERS President Hoffman International Inc. Piscataway, NJ Representing Small Business TIMOTHY W. WRIGHT, III Partner, Attorney At Law Burris, Wright, Slaughter and Tom, LLC. Chicago, IL Representing Commerce

Ex-Im Bank is an independent U.S. government agency that helps finance the sale of U.S. exports primarily to emerging markets throughout the world by providing loans, guarantees and insurance. In fiscal year 2001, Ex-Im Bank supported $12.5 billion of U.S. exports worldwide.