July 1998

BISNIS FinanceLink is a free, web-based service which makes available to banks and other financial institutions information on U.S. companies seeking to finance exports to the New Independent States. Companies in search of financing enter details of their transaction into the BISNIS FinanceLink website, which forwards this information to potential sources of such finance. BISNIS FinanceLink is available via the BISNIS home page, BISNIS Online, at: www.mac.doc.gov/bisnis/bisnis.html and then click on the section on the left-hand side of the page labeled "BISNIS FinanceLink." Applicants can also access BISNIS FinanceLink directly at: www.mac.doc.gov/bisnis/zfinlin3.htm.

U.S. exporters in search of export finance should access BISNIS FinanceLink at the web addresses given above. It should take an applicant no more than five minutes to fill out the form, which will then be examined by BISNIS staff for completeness. When complete, the information will be consolidated with other export finance transactions which BISNIS has received, and forwarded to finance service companies every two weeks. Qualifying U.S. financial service firms are those that 1.) are incorporated in the United States and 2.) transact their business in the United States. Financial service firms interested in receiving information about potential customers can register by contacting BISNIS by e-mail at bisnis@ita.doc.gov or via BISNIS Online.

BISNIS FinanceLink was created in response to U.S. businesses' growing activity in the NIS, to supplement U.S. exporters' search for trade finance services. Its design also ensures that small and medium-sized exporters' transactions are featured alongside those of larger U.S. companies. Exporters are strongly encouraged to consult the broadest variety of public and private sources of finance for their export transactions. The number of financial service providers participating in BISNIS FinanceLink is growing, but at no time should be considered exhaustive.

This report is provided courtesy of the Business Information Service for the Newly Independent States (BISNIS)