INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS AFFAIRS CORPORATION, publisher of Export Finance Guide, was established in 1979 to provide information, advisory and business development services to U.S. exporters, international corporations, and business associations. Since the mid-1990s its focus has been on business development information services, and since 1999 primarily on trade finance and newsletter and website publishing. Earlier, its primary focus was on U.S. government policies and programs and government relations services for corporate clients. IBAC, in Bethesda, Maryland, next to Washington, DC, for many years published Export Finance Letter and ExImBank Letter on trade finance, and International Trade and Investment Letter and Washington Export Letter on government programs. It provided advisory and information services on U.S. policies and programs to 20 major U.S. and Japanese corporations. IBAC also provided export-related services to some 15 business associations and world trade centers. It ran the National Federation of Export Associations, the U.S. export trading company industry group. RICHARD BAROVICK, editor and publisher, is a veteran Washington journalist and business consultant specializing in international trade policies and export development. He has been a writer and editor with The Journal of Commerce in New York, and a Washington correspondent with Euromoney Trade Finance Report, Business America (U.S. Commerce Dept. export magazine), and World Trade Magazine. CONTACT US: International Business Affairs Corporation Bethesda, Maryland, USA Phone: 301-907-8647 E-mail: exportfinance@verizon.net |
We Cover Several Key Trends Export Finance Guide provides news and a directory on trends in export finance resources, with a focus on what's available for small and mid-size companies. Here are a few of them. Working Capital, Short-term Receivables Several large banks deliver the Ex-Im Bank working capital program nationwide. A growing number of financial boutiques now offer working capital and receivables support with or without Ex-Im Bank programs. Equipment Deals (Medium-Term) A few banks and a dozen finance companies support medium-term deals using Ex-Im Bank programs, work on a transaction basis. Export Credit Insurance One of the fast-growth parts of export finance. Ten insurers and Ex-Im Bank offer short-term cover (multi-buyer and key buyer policies). A few also offer medium-term support. Brokers-Arrangers About 45 boutique credit insurance brokers now serve U.S. exporters, along with specialized units of five global brokers. Several also double as arrangers. Tax Benefits The IC-Disc, the only remaining export incentive, mostly benefits smaller firms. Specialty groups help exporters use it. |