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|**BISNISHome PageSearchBISNISEmbassyReportsCountryReportsIndustryReportsCustomsCornerPublicationsSourcesof FinanceLeadsand EventsExchangeRatesState ExportsOtherSources** |  | August - September 1998U.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 DEVELOPMENTEBRD 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)