FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NAIC INTERNATIONAL INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
CONTINUES TO GROW
Taiwan, Singapore, Republic of Srpska (Bosnia Herzegovina)
Participate for First Time

WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 4, 2009) - The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) today welcomed nine regulator interns from across the globe including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the Republic of Srpska (Bosnia Herzegovina), Taiwan and Thailand to the NAIC Central Office in Kansas City, Mo., for its Spring 2009 International Internship Program.

The interns will participate in a week-long orientation program in Kansas City, focusing on the broad principles of insurance regulation in the United States. Each intern will then travel to a host state for five weeks, working in technical areas of their specialization. Host jurisdictions for the spring program include Alabama, District of Columbia, New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico and West Virginia. Puerto Rico is a first-time host.

The program concludes with the interns attending the NAIC Summer National Meeting in Minneapolis, Minn., June 13 - 16, followed by an industry-regulator dialogue and closing ceremonies in Washington, D.C., June 17 - 20.

"The global financial crisis underscores the importance of cooperation within the international insurance community," said NAIC President and New Hampshire Insurance Commissioner Roger Sevigny. "These regulators and their home countries are crucial to the development of a common international regulatory standard. Their experience will help them better understand the U.S. system of insurance regulation, and foster an open dialogue about modernization through the sharing of ideas and best practices."

The NAIC developed the International Internship Program in 2004 to advance working relationships with foreign market regulators, emphasizing the exchange of regulatory techniques and technology. Since the program's inception, 71 interns from 16 countries have completed the training. Jurisdictions that have hosted international interns include: Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Texas and Washington.