US EXPORTS TO M'SIA JUMP 50 PCT IN JAN-APRIL PERIOD

From Manik Mehta

WASHINGTON, June 21 (Bernama) -- US exports to Malaysia jumped a staggering
50 per cent in the first four months of this year the year-earlier period.

The exports posted the third highest growth after Taiwan (+75 per cent) and
South Korea (+63 per cent).

After Malaysia, the fourth largest growth in US exports was Turkey (+49 per
cent) followed by China (+42 per cent), Singapore (+40 per cent), Colombia (+39
per cent), Brazil (+34 per cent), Mexico (+30 per cent) and Hong Kong (+28 per
cent).

US exports of goods and services rose to US$587.4 billion during the
Jan-April period, up 16.9 per cent over the year-earlier period.

This is reflected in the latest data released by the Census Bureau and the
Bureau of Economic Analysis of the US Commerce Department which says that the
"United States is on track to meet President (Barack) Obama's goal of doubling
exports and supporting two million American jobs over the next five years".

We continue to be encouraged by strong US export growth in 2010. Exim Bank
is committed to supporting the President's goal by helping more US businesses to
increase or begin export sales and create more American jobs," said Fred P.
Hochberg, chairman and president of the Export-Import Bank of the United States
(Exim Bank).

The National Export Initiative is a presidential-level and government-wide
export promotion strategy to help put Americans back to work and put the US on a
path to sustainable economic growth.

In support of this effort, Exim Bank says it is expanding its outreach
efforts and working to make its financing products accessible to more exporters.

Exim Bank, an independent, self-sustaining federal government agency,
exists to fill gaps in export financing, strengthen US export competitiveness,
and create and maintain US jobs.

The bank provides a variety of financing mechanisms, including working
capital guarantees, to help small-and medium-sized US businesses, export-credit
insurance to protect against non-payment by foreign buyers, and loan guarantees
and direct loans to assist foreign buyers of US goods and services.

In fiscal 2009, overall Exim Bank financing totalled US$21 billion, and
authorisations supporting small-business exports reached a historic high of
US$4.4 billion, nearly 21 per cent of total authorisations.
-- BERNAMA