Several organizations can give you the financial support you need to expand internationally. But which programs should you consider, and how much paperwork do you have to wrestle with? We can help.
The Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank), an independent U.S. government agency, facilitates the financing of exports of U.S. goods and services.
Ex-Im Bank guarantees the repayment of loans, makes loans to foreign purchasers of U.S. goods and services, and provides guarantees of working capital loans for U.S. exporters. It also provides credit insurance. Ex-Im Bank does not compete with commercial lenders, but assumes the risks they cannot accept.
The Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) is an independent U.S. government agency that facilitates direct U.S. investment in emerging democracies with fledgling free-market economies for the benefit of U.S. firms.
OPIC helps U.S. investors to mitigate related risks through direct loans, loan guarantees, and political risk insurance. Plus, it provides a variety of investor services.
In an attempt to promote U.S. technology abroad, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (TDA) helps U.S. companies in the initial stages of project development. It provides grants for feasibility studies, orientation visits, and conferences that demonstrate U.S. technology and equipment capabilities.
The Inter-American Investment Corporation (IIC), an affiliate of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), provides financing for private sector investment projects in Latin America and the Caribbean. IIC provides loans and makes capital investments designed to facilitate local private development.
The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, invests in developing country private ventures by offering equity financing and loans without government guarantees in collaboration with other investors. Always a minority partner, IFC seeks project sponsors from around the world with which it can form joint enterprises.
This article appeared in April 2001. (CB)