Global financing options.

The Export-import (Ex-Im) Bank of the U.S., an independent government agency, offers a number of financing options to minority- and women-owned export companies, including credit insurance, and working-capital guarantees on commercial loans. Tamara Maxwell, minority business development officer, noted a variety of products the bank offers to give your business the security it needs to "export with confidence and increase sales."

"Some of the key benefits to working with the Ex-Im Bank," says Maxwell, "is that we will help to secure working capital for your business by providing reassurance to your bank, assist you in entering new markets, as well as [help you] increase sales in existing ones by backing your credit decisions and offering your buyer flexible and competitive financing terms, which will increase your sales potential." All of this helps to minimize risk to the business owner. "We understand the challenges that minority. and women-owned businesses face in today's global marketplace, and the ability to provide financing or credit terms is one of the most critical elements in competing for and winning export sales," says Maxwell. Using the services of the Ex-Im Bank to ensure open account payment terms will prove very attractive to foreign customers. Ex-Im Bank offers a 100% guarantee for qualified minority- and women-owned exporters in their "pre-export finance" needs and provides for indirect export financing. Contact the Ex-Im Bank at 800-565-3946 or www.exim.gov. There is no deal too small for the Ex-Im Bank.