August - September 1998

U.S. ENERGY INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION (EIA) EIA, the analytical and statistical arm of the U.S. Department of Energy, offers at its website energy data and energy sector-focused analyses for each country of the Newly Independent States. Reports currently available include: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Russia, Russian Oil and Gas Exports, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. In addition, EIA has prepared an overview of the Caspian Sea region that covers regional issues and proposed export routes. All of these briefs are available at: http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/cabs/cabsfsu.html.

EX-IM BANK Under the Export-Import Bank's Delegated Authority Lender Program (DA), empowered lenders (commercial and community banks and nonbank lenders) can approve Ex-Im-guaranteed working capital loans directly for U.S. small- and medium-sized business exporters without Ex-Im Bank's prior approval. This simplified process allows lower costs for exporters, faster processing of their inquiries, and faster delivery of financing. Additionally, a new level of DA has been added: qualifying asset-based lenders and commercial banks can approve up to $10 million per borrower from a previous limit of $5 million. This increase widens small business access to working capital. For a list of participating lenders, visit www.exim.gov.

EUROPEAN BANK FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT EBRD has several Trade Facilitation Programs to alleviate the difficulty of finding trade finance in the NIS and guaranteeing letters of credit. Under the trade facilitation program, an EBRD irrevocable standby letter of credit in favor of the foreign confirming bank will replace requirements for a cash deposit. EBRD will guarantee up to 80 percent of the reimbursement obligation of the local issuing bank. For a list of correspondent and issuing banks, contact: Stephanie Crossley, Tel.: 44 (171) 338 6524.

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