Export-Import Bank of the U.S. Chair Lewis Attends 79th Annual United Nations General Assembly in New York City

Highlighted EXIM's Effort to Meet Charter Mandates

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEOctober 1, 2024

New York, New York - Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) President and Chair Reta Jo Lewis traveled to New York City last week to address key audiences alongside the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). While in New York, Chair Lewis highlighted EXIM's commitment to competing with the People's Republic of China (PRC), investing in renewable energy projects, and extending its outreach across sub-Saharan Africa while supporting good-paying domestic jobs.

"I am so pleased to have met with global and industry leaders during the 79^th United Nations General Assembly this week to talk about the many ways EXIM can collaborate on projects to support American business," said Chair Lewis. "As we continue to celebrate EXIM's 90^th year, it was an honor to have the opportunity to continue lauding the work we do to increase the competitiveness of our exporters and be in conversation with likeminded partners working to identify mutually beneficial solutions as we navigate the global economic landscape."

Chair Lewis kicked off the week celebrating EXIM's 90^th anniversary at the Roosevelt House Public Policy Institute at Hunter College where she highlighted how EXIM is supporting U.S. jobs through its programs like the China and Transformational Exports Program (CTEP) and its flagship Make More in America Initiative.

On Monday, Chair Lewis underscored EXIM's ongoing commitment to Ukraine during a meeting with President of Ukraine, H.E. Volodymyr Zelenskyy. During this meeting, Chair Lewis highlighted EXIM's investments in Ukraine, including the recently authorized $156 million in direct financing for UZ Rail to acquire 40 locomotives to support Ukrainian infrastructure needs, and the ways EXIM will continue to invest in Ukraine's energy sector. Chair Lewis also met with General John Allen to discuss the importance of economic security and its integrity to national security.

On Tuesday, Chair Lewis served as a panelist during the 2024 Concordia Annual Summit speaking alongside experts in national and economic security and global development on a panel entitled "Building Resilience: The Effects of Geopolitics on Global Trade and Supply Chains." During this panel, Chair Lewis underscored the importance of strong partnerships and how CTEP is aiding in the domestic competition against the PRC by increasing the export competitiveness of the American exporter. Discussions during this high-level panel focused on reinforcing global trade and supply chains, especially in the extraction and refining of critical minerals such as lithium for batteries.

Following the panel, Chair Lewis participated in a roundtable discussion, further highlighting EXIM's financing flexibilities during the Minerals Investment Network for Vital Energy Security and Transition. This public-private partnership between the U.S. Department of State and SAFE Center for Critical Minerals Strategy is hosted by export credit agencies, and development finance institutions of the U.S. Department of State's Minerals Security Partnership. During this event, Chair Lewis met with U.S. Ambassador to Australia Caroline Kennedy, Abigail Hunter, Executive Director at the SAFE Center for Critical Minerals Strategy and Kurt Campbell, Deputy Secretary of State to discuss the importance of strong interagency partnerships.

Chair Lewis closed out the day with another roundtable entitled, "Funding the Gap - Strategies to Accelerate the Growth of African Female Entrepreneurs," for the Africa Business Stories Roundtable Series. Moderated by Chiney Ogwumike of President Biden's Advisory Council on Africa, Chair Lewis discussed the various gaps, from financial services to education and policy, that limit the growth and success of African female entrepreneurs and EXIM financing tools to address these barriers. Chair Lewis reaffirmed EXIM's commitment to its sub-Saharan Africa mandate, highlighting more than $13.5 billion in transactions over the past 13 years.

On Wednesday, Chair Lewis participated on a panel at the World Economic Forum (WEF) entitled "Advancing Fairness in the Green Transition - Strategies for an Equitable Impact," where she underscored EXIM investments in renewable energy in sub-Saharan Africa, including a $907 million direct loan to support a project led by Miami, FL-based SunAfrica to construct two photovoltaic solar power plants in Angola. The largest renewable energy project in EXIM history, the transaction is estimated to support 1,600 jobs and support supply chains in California, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Delaware while ensuring there is reliable, sustainable access to electricity.

Further reinforcing EXIM's commitment to sub-Saharan Africa, Chair Lewis met with the President of Botswana Mokgweetsi Masisi, Botswana Minister of Foreign Affairs Lemogang Kwape and Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, Nigeria's Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment to discuss potential areas for mutually beneficial collaboration. Chair Lewis also met with Idris Alubankudi Saliu, Special Adviser to the President on Technology and Digital to continue a dialogue around strategic investments.

Chair Lewis also met with stakeholders from the Democratic Republic of Congo, TAV Airports CEO Serkan Kaptan, and Vincent Summa, CEO of the Summa Group to discuss financing solutions to enhance infrastructure development in Africa. During a conversation with the United Arab Emirates' (UAE) Minister of State for African Affairs, Sheikh Shakhboot Al Nahyan , Chair Lewis discussed areas for EXIM and the UAE to work together to provide financing for projects across the region.

On Thursday, she attended an event at Citibank where Tanzania received financial support to help small and medium sized enterprises.

During a panel at Columbia University's Center on Global Energy Policy, Chair Lewis shared the interconnectedness of climate action, green trade and industrial policy. She also attended the Bloomberg Philanthropies Earthshot Prize Innovation Summit which is a global environmental prize to discover, accelerate and scale ground-breaking solutions to repair and regenerate the planet.

On Friday, Chair Lewis delivered remarks at the WEF during an event called "Sustainability Credits: Harnessing Markets for Investment in Nature and Climate," which was moderated by CNBC's Michelle Caruso-Cabrera. The event featured conversations focused on the vital need for partnerships to spark investment in the Global South. During this panel, Chair Lewis touted EXIM's commitment to equitably investing in and incentivizing environmentally beneficial projects and discussed the roles of public and private sector actors to support sustainability credits.

ABOUT EXIM:

The Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) is the nation's official export credit agency with the mission of supporting American jobs by facilitating U.S. exports. To advance American competitiveness and assist U.S. businesses as they compete for global sales, EXIM offers financing including export credit insurance, working capital guarantees, loan guarantees, and direct loans. As an independent federal agency, EXIM contributes to U.S. economic growth by supporting tens of thousands of jobs in exporting businesses and their supply chains across the United States. Learn more at www.exim.gov.

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