Ex-Im Posts Strong First Quarter Results

Small business authorizations up more than 22%

Ex-Im Bank is building on a record-breaking 2010, with strong first quarter results for Fiscal Year 2011, including:

$8 billion in total authorizations;

Supporting nearly $9.3 billion in export sales;

These sales support approximately  66,000 American jobs in      communities across the country.

In addition, many of the key long-term priorities highlighted in the Bank's 2010 strategic plan are taking root, ensuring that more American companies—large and small—have access to the tools, resources and relationships needed to sell their products to key export markets.

One of those priorities is growing Ex-Im's small business outreach and authorization levels. Throughout the last two years, the Bank worked to build capacity and develop new financing tools to assist more American small businesses.

These efforts are paying off. For the first quarter of FY 2011, small business authorization volume in dollars is up 22.46 percent over the same quarter in 2010 and new customer volume is up 55 percent.

Ex-Im looks to continue these strong results with the launch of its Global Access for Small Business initiative. Global Access is a partnership between Ex-Im Bank, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Manufactures and several private sector financial institutions. The goal of the initiative is to ensure that more small businesses have access to the capital needed to expand their export sales into more markets across the globe.

Ex-Im has developed several new financial products specifically for small business exporters—and will be holding forums throughout the country to identify more small businesses ready to engage in exporting opportunities.

Solid export growth puts U.S. on track to meet National Export Initiative goals

For November, U.S. exports climbed to their highest level in more than two years. In addition, from January through November of 2010, exports were up 16.8 percent over the same period in 2009, putting us on target to meet the President's  goal of doubling exports in five years.

Ex-Im Small Business Spotlight—Zero Motorcycles

Zero Motorcycles Inc.—Scotts Valley, CA
Exporting to:  South Africa, Brazil, Singapore

Zero Motorcycles is a small business with 48 employees, and sales revenue ofapproximately $5 million.  The company obtained a multi-buyer insurance policy from Ex-Im in October of 2010.

Zero manufactures electric motorcycles. They are designed to behigh performance, lightweight and fast.  Their motorcycles produce less than one-eighth  the amount of CO2 as a gas-powered motorcycle.

Read more about Ex-Im's small business success stories
http://www.exim.gov/sbgport/SB_success.cfm#zero

Hochberg Joins President Obama in India; Signs $5 billion MOU with Reliance

In November, Chairman Hochberg traveled with President Obama to India to help open up this growing economy to more American businesses. 

In India, Administration officials were joined by hundreds of key American and Indian business leaders. The trip produced landmark agreements for Boeing jets, GE engines, medical and mining equipment, worth nearly $10 billion in exports. The agreements will also support more than 50,000 American jobs.

Of those agreements, Chairman Hochberg signed a memorandum of understanding with Reliance Power, which will support the purchase of $5 billion worth of American-made equipment and services, including capital goods for important renewable energy projects.

In addition, Ex-Im is exploring financing opportunities with SpiceJet as it considers its next round of aircraft purchases. These purchases will help enhance India's low-cost travel market, while supporting good American jobs.

America Makes What India Needs

In an op-ed in the Huffington Post on November 9th, Chairman Hochberg wrote that one thing was abundantly clear from his trip with President Obama to India: America makes what India's growing middle-class needs. He added that, "U.S. companies must capitalize on the huge opportunities for sales in this fast-growing market if we want to jump-start our economy and create stable, durable American jobs back home."

To read the entire Huffington Post piece, go to:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/fred-hochberg/america-makes-what-india-_b_781067.html

Ex-Im Bank's financing helps push deal with Pakistan for GE trains over Chinese competitor

A GE plant in Erie, Penn., recently challenged a Chinese competitor for a contract to build 150 diesel-electric locomotives for sale to Pakistan.

The sale is valued at $477 million. A central reason GE could submit a strong bid was they were able to match China's financing for the project. 

The U.S. government, led by Ex-Im, stepped up to provide the financing and ensure that GE and its workers could compete on the price and quality of its locomotives alone—and not be undercut by unfair  trade finance policies.

The transaction, if approved, would create 700 U.S. jobs. And that is just the beginning. These locomotive sales create a stream of employment opportunities over time.

The ability of American business to win more of these types of projects will be critical in shaping our economic future and defining our role on the global stage. To read more:

Financial Times    /  Washington Post  / Bloomberg  /  Wall Street Journal

Chairman Hochberg Hosts President's Export Council

On December 9th, Ex-Im Bank hosted a breakfast and roundtable discussion with the President's Export Council. At the meeting, Chairman Hochberg discussed the growing global demand for American-made products, particularly in emerging economies, where there is a need for the high-quality capital goods and services that American businesses sell. 

Hochberg guest-hosts CNBCs Worldwide Exchange

Chairman Hochberg recently guest-hosted CNBC's Worldwide Exchange, where he discussed global economic issues and important emerging markets where Ex-Im Bank has identified growing  export opportunities. The Chairman also talked about the demand for U.S. capital goods in countries like India. Click on image below to watch video.

Chairman Hochberg discusses export opportunities with the Small Business Advocate

In December, Chairman Hochberg joined Jim Blasingame on his Small Business Advocate program to discuss the ways Ex-Im is helping American small businesses tap into export markets across the world. 

To listen to the program, go to The Small Business Advocate.

2010 Annual Report Available Online

The complete 2010 Ex-Im Bank Annual Report is now online. The report offers an in-depth look at Ex-Im record breaking year. 

SAVE THE DATE: 

Ex-Im Annual Conference
Strengthening America Through Exports

March 31 -  April 1, 2011
Omni Shoreham Hotel
Washington, DC

Confirmed CEO speakers include: Dave Cote of Honeywell International Inc.; Peter Loescher of Siemens; Vikram Pandit of Citigroup; James McNerney of Boeing; and Douglas R. Oberhelman of Caterpillar, Inc.

To register on-line, please visit   https://www.cmpinc.net/eximbank/2011.