Fred P. Hochberg, Chairman and President of the Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank), is leading a business-development mission this week in India. Chairman Hochberg announced US$25 million in Ex-Im Bank loans for two new solar-energy projects and is promoting the bank’s financing products to support the purchase of U.S. goods and services by Indian buyers. 

“India is a key country for U.S. exports and an increasingly important market for Ex-Im Bank. In the first nine months of fiscal year 2011, the bank has approved US$1.4 billion in transactions on behalf of American exporters and their Indian buyers. This financing has increased our overall exposure in India to US$5.5 billion and supported over 10,000 American jobs,” said Chairman Hochberg. “With this kind of growth in demand, we anticipate that next year India may very well become Ex-Im Bank’s biggest single market.”  

Hochberg added, “As the world’s two largest democracies, the United States and India have a solid and unique partnership. There are tremendous opportunities for investments in projects that create jobs and help address India’s growing energy and infrastructure needs.”  

Renewable Energy

Renewable-energy projects are a top priority for Ex-Im Bank. In FY2011 through June 30, the Bank has approved US$75 million in solar transactions in India, which will produce approximately 35 Megawatts (MW) of solar power. The Bank also has approximately US$500 million in upcoming Indian solar transactions, which will generate 315 MW of solar power.  In New Delhi, Hochberg announced authorizations totaling more than US$25 million for two separate solar transactions. Ex-Im Bank is providing a US$16 million, 16.5-year loan to Azure Power Rajasthan Pvt. Ltd. to purchase thin-film solar modules from First Solar Inc. in Tempe, Ariz, for the construction of a five-MW solar photovoltaic plant in the state of Rajasthan.  

Additionally, Ex-Im Bank authorized a US$9.2 million, 18-year loan for thin-film solar modules from Abound Solar Inc. in Loveland, Colo., to Punj Lloyd Solar Power Ltd. for the construction of a five- MW photovoltaic solar power plant in Rajasthan.  

Later in the week, Hochberg will travel to Mumbai to meet with Anil Ambani, chairman of Reliance Power, Ltd. As part of President Obama’s trip to India last November, Ex-Im signed a US$5 billion Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Reliance for the purchase of U.S.-manufactured equipment for a power project that will produce 8,000 MW. The MOU also covers the purchase of renewable-energy (solar and wind) equipment from U.S. manufacturers and service providers for projects that will produce 900 MW of clean energy. 

Infrastructure