Houston, TX - Houston-based UTC Overseas, a recognized leader in global logistics service solutions, is taking an industry leadership role in pushing for Congressional renewal of the 81-year old U.S. Export-Import (Ex-Im) Bank before it expires July 1st.  Executive Vice President Marco Poisler noted that his firm recently sent an Issues Brief to the company’s customers, service providers, industry colleagues and employees, urging them to contact their representatives to voice their support.  It also sponsored a reception for legislative and industry leaders in Washington, D.C., organized by UTC CEO Brian Posthumus, to back the Bank.  Keynoter was Cong. Joe Wilson (R-SC) who spoke on A Conservative Republican’s Support for Reauthorization. “We are explaining the issues involved and why renewal of the Bank’s budget is important to the entire country in terms of exports, economic growth, jobs stimulation and even foreign policy,” Poisler explained.  “It’s no secret that Ex-Im financing is important to us,” he adds.  “When projects get the green light with loan guarantees it generates business for UTC in terms of planning for and delivering project components from U.S. manufacturers to overseas locations. For the companies we use to help us complete those deliveries – truckers, ports, shipping lines and many more, it means business, jobs, economic security and growth as well.  And it obviously helps U.S. manufacturers win new export business, and with it jobs and economic growth.” Mr. Posthumus said the Bank guarantees loans to overseas customers of thousands of U.S. companies.  “In developing countries with limited financing, loan guarantees are often essential to final approval. The Bank operates on fees paid by its users and is a net revenue generator to the federal budget.  Over the last six years alone, its financing has helped maintain some 1.2 million private sector jobs in the U.S.  More than 85% of the Bank’s transactions support small-to-mid-sized businesses.” “What many Americans don’t realize,” Poisler adds, “is that the Bank is a crucial tool for the United States in terms of global foreign policy and economic influence. Numerous countries around the world have government-backed financing programs and we are competing with them for business, jobs and growth.” Poisler cited a recent All Africa News item from Africa’s Ivory Coast.  (http://allafrica.com/stories/201505252359.html): “That country’s government has doubled its infrastructure spending from 15% of its budget in 2010 to over 30% today to help finance badly needed roads, bridges and power systems.  But with limited resources, the country has turned to outside sources for help, including foreign government financing.   “As a result, it just signed an $800 million loan with the Chinese Ex-Im Bank to fund upgrades to its major port.  It’s a 20-year term with 9-10 year deferment and a 2% interest rate.  That means Ivory Coast can move ahead with that project, and the Chinese gain in terms of manufacturing and logistics jobs back home, while expanding their economic influence in the growing African market.   “For the U.S. to scuttle its own Ex-Im loan guarantee program makes no sense and we are urging our representatives to continue their support for U.S. job security, economic growth and export expansion.  We hope everyone who hears this message and knows the importance of exports to the U.S. economy, will take a few moments to tell their representatives ‘Please renew the Ex-Im bank.  It’s important to me and to America’.”