Maritime Administrator

15^th Annual Breakbulk Transportation Conference & Exhibition

Friday, September 15, 2004

Good Morning, ladies and gentlemen. I am delighted to join you this morning, particularly since I have the privilege of introducing Ms. Linda Conlin, a member of the board of directors of the Export-Import Bank of the United States.

Ms. Conlin has a long and distinguished history of public service. She has held positions with the U.S. Information Agency, the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Tourism Administration, and served as the principal advisor for marketing and policy for travel and tourism for New Jersey Governor Christie Whitman.

As the as Assistant Secretary for Trade Development at the U.S. Department of Commerce, she administered the Trade Information Center and the Advocacy Center and oversaw the President’s Export Council, as well as twenty-one trade advisory committees.

Ms. Conlin was instrumental in initiating trade in health care services for U.S. pharmaceutical and medical equipment companies in Russia and expanded the participation of U.S. health care and other industries in the global fight against HIV/AIDs in Sub-Saharan Africa. Closer to home, she demonstrated strong leadership ability in her involvement in the efforts to help the U.S. tourism industry recover from the aftermath of the September 11^th tragedy.

Drawing on her expertise in international marketing and management, President Bush appointed Linda Conlin to the Eximbank earlier this year. In her current position, Ms. Colin works with the bank to provide loans and guarantees to companies that use American goods and services. One of the requirements that goes with the bank’s favorable interest rate is that all the cargo must be shipped on U.S. vessels.

Ms. Conlin clearly understands the importance of building and maintaining a healthy economy for the United States, and a healthy martime industry. She is knowledgeable about the intricacies of doing business in a worldwide marketplace and the critical role the maritime industry plays in making that marketplace accessible to both American and foreign goods. As such, she has been and is a staunch supporter of U.S. Mariners.

I would like to express my appreciation for her leadership and ask you to please join me in welcoming Ms. Conlin.

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