October 10, 2006

PROFESSIONAL BANKER, BUSINESS EXECUTIVE  AND EDUCATOR SWORN-IN AS NEWEST BOARD MEMBER AT EXPORT-IMPORT BANK OF THE UNITED STATES

WASHINGTON, D.C.--- Bijan R. Kian of California has been sworn-in as the fifth member of the board of directors of the Export-Import Bank of the United States, (Ex-Im Bank), the official export credit agency of the United States.

"Director Kian brings to the board broad-based experience in banking, business and public service," said Ex-Im Bank Chairman and President James H. Lambright. "His guidance will be invaluable as we continue initiatives to reach out to companies about how financing from Ex-Im Bank can enable them to compete effectively in the global marketplace."

Bijan R. Kian, Ex-Im Bank's newest board member, is congratulated by President and Chairman James H. Lambright immediately after being sworn-in during a brief ceremony in the Bank's Washington Headquarters

Among his accomplishments, Kian was formerly director of the State of California Office of Foreign Investment, which, with worldwide offices, was the state's leading office for attraction, retention and expansion of foreign direct investment with an $86 billion foreign investment portfolio.

Kian was also on the board of the California Housing Finance Authority, and a senior official and board member of a number of California companies, including Shearson/American Express and Great American First Savings Bank, and president of GLOBTEL, an international telecommunications company based in San Diego. In addition he was a principal in Global Capital Markets, Inc."

As director of the Office of Foreign Investment, Kian was the first Iranian American to be appointed or elected to direct a statewide office in California.

Kian was educated at the Tehran Industrial College, School of Engineering; and Brighton University in Sussex, England. He was previously an adjunct professor and lecturer in Finance at California State University, Fullerton and was director of the California Center for Commercial Diplomacy at California State University, Dominguez Hills.

Kian was nominated by President George W. Bush on July 20, 2006, and was confirmed by the United States Senate on September 29, 2006.