Ex-Im Bank Joins with World Trade Center New Orleans to Boost Local U.S. Exports

WASHINGTON, Nov. 21, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) has joined forces with the World Trade Center New Orleans to assist local businesses to boost their export sales and add quality American jobs as part of Ex-Im Bank's City/State Program.

The City/State Program helps ensure that Ex-Im Bank's export finance products are more accessible to small and medium-sized businesses by way of local, state, and regional economic development and business support organizations. Each City/State Program member pledges to make financing assistance and entrepreneurial services available to local businesses in order to create, promote, and expand exports from their area. Ex-Im Bank provides members with free marketing and training materials, qualified finance experts to speak at members' local events, assistance with outreach and counseling, and access to a network of lenders, insurance brokers, and U.S. Government export resources.

The program is expected to accelerate export business and job growth by connecting Bank products and services to a statewide network of Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs).

"Ex-Im Bank has a lot to offer New Orleans businesses that wish to expand their export reach, and this program will put Ex-Im's financing benefits on display for them," said Ex-Im Bank Chairman and President Fred P. Hochberg. "Exporters can learn about Express Insurance and other cost-effective tools the Bank provides, and use those tools to increase global sales and local job growth."

"We're very excited about this new partnership with the Ex-Im Bank after working together over the course of several months to get to this point," Dominik Knoll, CEO, World Trade Center of New Orleans said. "This partnership furthers our ability to provide Louisiana businesses with the financial resources and information they need to expand internationally. The Export-Import Bank of the United States is an invaluable financial resource that has cleared the pathway for thousands of exporting businesses throughout the United States and we look forward to being a local resource for Louisiana businesses interested in those same financial opportunities."

ABOUT EX-IM BANK:
Ex-Im Bank is an independent federal agency that supports and maintains U.S. jobs by filling gaps in private export financing at no cost to American taxpayers. The Bank provides a variety of financing mechanisms, including working capital guarantees and export credit insurance, to promote the sale of U.S. goods and services abroad. Ninety percent of its transactions directly serve American small businesses.

In fiscal year 2014, Ex-Im Bank approved $20.5 billion in total authorizations. These authorizations supported an estimated $27.5 billion in U.S. export sales, as well as approximately 164,000 American jobs in communities across the country.

Small business exporters can learn about how Ex-Im Bank products can empower them to increase foreign sales by clicking here. For more information about Ex-Im, visit www.exim.gov.

ABOUT THE WORLD TRADE CENTER OF NEW ORLEANS:
The World Trade Center of New Orleans (WTCNO) is the strongest international business organization in the Gulf Coast region, consisting of 1,000+ companies as well as high profile individual members. This membership base represents a diverse group of industry leaders, companies, professional organizations, and government institutions that include manufacturing, energy, agriculture, maritime, digital media, foreign consulates, and other interests. In 2013, member organizations were able to significantly contribute to the state's record-breaking exports, the total value of which exceeded $63.3 billion. The mission of the World Trade Center of New Orleans is to create jobs and wealth in Louisiana through international trade, economic development, and allied activities. For more information, please visit www.wtcno.org.

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SOURCE Export-Import Bank of the United States

Related Links

http://www.exim.gov