Wisconsin Businesses Learn How to Succeed Through Exports at Forum Hosted by Congressman Pocan and Ex-Im Bank Chairman Hochberg

MADISON, Wis., Aug. 28, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, Congressman Mark Pocan and Export-Import Bank Chairman Fred P. Hochberg hosted an exporter forum in downtown Madison. More than 75 small- and medium-sized-business owners attended the event, which focused on how American companies can successfully export their products overseas. Attendees also received one-on-one trade counseling from Export-Import Bank experts.

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"Our business owners are no longer just competing with our neighbors in the Midwest, but with Asia and India and South America," Pocan said. "Fortunately, the global economy presents our business owners with tremendous opportunities, as the high quality 'Made in Wisconsin' brand is respected and sought after across the world. Today's forum provided our business owners with valuable resources they need to export, and thereby expand their businesses and create jobs for Wisconsin."

"Wisconsin is an important manufacturing hub, and I hope that after today more small and medium-sized business across the state will take advantage of global sales opportunities," said Chairman Hochberg. "Exports create and sustain high-quality jobs, and it is critical that we give our business owners the tools they need to succeed in international markets."

During the forum, Chairman Hochberg gave an overview of Export-Import Bank's Global Access for Small-Business initiative, which seeks to  increase the number of small businesses across the United States that export goods and services produced by U.S. workers. Local residents who were unable to attend can call Ex-Im's regional office at 312-353-8081.

The Global Access program is supported by a wide variety of business, financial and government partners, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), and the Bank's 60-plus city/state partners located throughout the U.S. The Export-Import Bank has hosted more than 50 Global Access forums around the country.

ABOUT EX-IM BANK:

Ex-Im Bank is an independent federal agency that creates and maintains U.S. jobs by filling gaps in private export financing at no cost to American taxpayers. In the past five years (from Fiscal Year 2008), Ex-Im Bank has earned for U.S. taxpayers nearly $1.6 billion above the cost of operations. The Bank provides a variety of financing mechanisms, including working capital guarantees, export-credit insurance and financing to help foreign buyers purchase U.S. goods and services.

Ex-Im Bank approved $35.8 billion in total authorizations in FY 2012 – an all-time Ex-Im record. This total includes more than $6.1 billion directly supporting small-business export sales – also an Ex-Im record. Ex-Im Bank's total authorizations are supporting an estimated $50 billion in U.S. export sales and approximately 255,000 American jobs in communities across the country. For more information, visit www.exim.gov.

SOURCE Export-Import Bank of the United States