Another Successful Trip Abroad

Another Successful Trip Abroad

By Governor Dave Heineman

April 24, 2006

Dear Fellow Nebraskans:

I write with good news this week, thanks to the work of Lt. Gov. Rick Sheehy.

He has served with distinction as Lieutenant Governor since his appointment last year. He serves as the director of Nebraska's homeland security efforts, chairman of the Nebraska Information Technology Commission and has been directly involved in economic development efforts across the state.

This latest trade mission provided an excellent opportunity for Rick to represent our state on the international stage. He was joined by 30 delegates, leading meetings scheduled with the Cuban import authority. This was the largest Nebraska delegation to travel to Cuba. The group included representatives of local producers, Nebraska co-ops and companies, commodity groups, and Nebraska Department of Agriculture staff.

Some of the participants in this most recent trade mission were interested in exploring export opportunities for the first time, while others hoped to build on their presence in the Cuban market. Representatives of Nebraska's pork, poultry and dairy industries were among those pursuing new opportunities in Cuba, several of whom were successful in negotiating export deals as part of this visit.

They join several beef, dry bean, wheat, and soybean producers and co-ops in cultivating a new international market for Nebraska ag products.

Our first mission to Cuba resulted in an agreement worth $30 million that provided an 18 month window for Nebraska producer groups to execute contracts for ag products. Prior to this most recent visit, $27 million in contracts had been singed for products such as corn, wheat and soybeans. An agreement for an additional $5 million in Nebraska beef was reached in November, in addition to an agreement worth $30 million for U.S. soybean producers.

Now, eight months later the first agreement to purchase $30 million in Nebraska goods has been fulfilled, thanks to the hard work of our producers and the demand for the quality products grown in our state. In addition, this latest mission raised the bar by securing an additional pledge for $30 million in Nebraska food products.

I firmly believe that for our economy to continue to succeed in the 21st Century, we need to continue to search out new opportunities for international trade. As the state's largest industry and a leading producer of several high-demand commodities in the U.S. it is important that our agriculture industry have the opportunity to pursue new avenues for growth.

With one in three jobs in our state tied to agriculture, each new opportunity abroad helps provide new opportunities for Nebraska communities, along with individual companies and families. Rural economic development in particular is linked to the ability of farmers and ranchers to find markets for the products they produce, just as urban economies have benefited from business relationships begun as part of an international trade mission.

I want to thank Lt. Gov. Sheehy for his leadership on this visit and for his service to our state, in addition to expressing my gratitude to all those involved in planning this latest trade mission. Our producers will certainly benefit from the success Nebraska has achieved abroad.

http://gov.nol.org/columns/2006/0424.html