Importance of U.S. Competitiveness is Center Stage at Export-Import Bank Annual Conference
April 12, 2012
(Ex-Im Bank)
Chairman Hochberg responds to Bank critics
Washington, D.C. – President Bill Clinton today
gave the keynote address at the Export-Import
Bank of the United States' (Ex-Im Bank) 37th
annual conference, "Ex-Im –Your Competitive
Edge." More than 1,200 people were in
attendance, including U.S. exporters, domestic
and international lenders, brokers, foreign
buyers, and prominent members of the business
and government community. President Clinton
also addressed Ex-Im's annual conference in
1993 while in office.
"We are honored to have President Clinton
address our annual conference to highlight the
important role Ex-Im plays in helping
businesses - both large and small - succeed in
an increasingly competitive global economy,"
said Fred P. Hochberg, the chairman and
president of Ex-Im Bank. "Having a strong Ex-Im
Bank is critical to leveling the playing field
and ensuring that American businesses are
judged solely on the quality of their products.
We need more 'Made in the U.S.A' labels on
products around the world, and Ex-Im can help
make that happen."
In his opening remarks, Hochberg said, "Some in
Washington think government has no role to play
in helping our companies compete abroad. They
think we should stand down as American
companies compete with foreign companies backed
by foreign governments. They think we should
disarm in the middle of an economic arms race."
He went on to say, "There are times in life
when 'one day at a time' makes sense. This is
NOT one of those times. If we want an economy
built to last, we need an Export-Import Bank
authorized not just for a few months or for a
year. We need exactly what President Obama is
asking for: A full four-year authorization with
a $140 billion lending cap."
Leaders from the business and government
community in attendance today include Valerie
Jarrett, senior advisor to President Obama;
Dave Cote, chairman and CEO, Honeywell
International Inc.; Former Ambassador to China
Jon Huntsman; and James Fallows, national
correspondent, The Atlantic.
Presenters on the second day of the conference
will include Commerce Secretary John Bryson;
Mayor of Chicago Rahm Emanuel; Jeffrey Sachs,
director of the Earth Institute at Columbia
University; David Rhodes, president, CBS News;
David Rubenstein, co-founder and managing
director of The Carlyle Group; and Andrew
Liveris, chief executive office, Dow Chemical.
A full list of participants at Friday's
conference session is available online at www.exim.gov/news/annualconf/2012/index.cfm.
The conference also featured a special
"Business Speed Networking" session that
brought together foreign buyers and American
sellers for one-on-one introductory meetings
aimed to facilitate deal making. Participants
also met with Ex-Im Bank staff and other U.S.
government representatives to obtain detailed
information about export finance and trade
products and programs.
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