For Immediate Release

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Tim McCoy at (202) 835-1115 or

Leading U.S.-Africa Business Group Says Ex-Im Bank

Reflects Diversity of American Business in Africa

WASHINGTON, April 23, 2001 --The Washington-based Corporate Council on Africa (CCA) today hailed the appointment of eight of its corporate members to a key advisory committee of the Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank).

The Sub-Saharan Africa Advisory Committee provides expert guidance to Ex-Im Bank in developing policies to further strengthen Ex-Im Bank support of U.S. exports to Africa, which totaled more than $10 billion in 2000. David B. Cooke, Senior Vice President of Baltimore-based Allfirst Bank, will chair the committee. The 10-person advisory committee is rounded out by the ambassadors from Senegal and Tanzania.

CCA President Stephen Hayes praised Ex-Im Bank's decision, noting that the membership of the advisory committee accurately reflects the growing diversity of American investments and commercial interests on the African continent. "This committee," Hayes said, "includes two telecom companies, a bank, a healthcare services provider, an expert on Africa's textile industry and an independent oil company that operates exclusively in Africa. The fact that they are all members of the Corporate Council on Africa is extremely gratifying."

Besides Cooke, the committee includes:

• Susan W. Adam, Chief Executive Officer, Adam & Associates International, Inc.
• Patricia A. Bagnell, President, Africa ONE, Ltd.
• Don H. Barden, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Barden Companies, Inc
• John T. Bolden, Manager, International Marketing, Caterpillar Inc.
• Anthony J. Carroll, Managing Director, Manchester Trade, Ltd.
• Janice Van Dyke Walden, Director-Public Relations, Vanco Energy Company
• Charles Oshunremi, Vice President-International Relations, QUALCOMM Inc.
• Ambassador Mustafa Salim Nyang'Anyi, Embassy of the United Republic of Tanzania
• Ambassador Mamadou Mansour Seck, Embassy of the Republic of Senegal

The Corporate Council on Africa (CCA), established in 1992, is a nonpartisan 501 (c) (3) membership organization of more than 170 American corporations dedicated to strengthening the commercial relationship between the United States and Africa. CCA members represent nearly 85 percent of total U.S. private sector investments in Africa.