Download to PDF
Release Date: April 13, 2017
Media Contacts: Rick Hummell, 608-224-5041, rickhummell@wisconsin.gov
or Bill Cosh, Communications Director, 608-224-5020, William2.Cosh@wisconsin.gov
MADISON – DATCP Secretary
Ben Brancel will lead a delegation of Wisconsin dairy and agricultural
companies on a trade mission to Mexico in May, where the companies will
showcase Wisconsin products and technology in a special Wisconsin Pavilion at
Expo Leche, Mexico’s largest annual dairy industry conference. The trade
mission is scheduled May 4-7 in Aguascalientes, Mexico.
In addition to attending several
events at Expo Leche, Brancel is scheduled to meet with numerous top-level Mexican
officials in efforts to continue to establish and reinforce relationships with
Mexico and increase awareness of Wisconsin dairy and agricultural industries.
Mexico is Wisconsin's
second most valuable agricultural export market, importing more than $360
million in products in 2016, including $61 million in dairy products such as
cheese, milk, whey and butter, and eggs and honey. Located in north-central Mexico,
Aguascalientes has a strong business climate and is a popular location for
international headquarters for many companies.
“Our goals for the trade
mission are to help create business opportunities for Wisconsin, raise
awareness of Wisconsin's global leadership in dairy and agriculture, and
continue to build upon Wisconsin's relationship with Mexico,” said Brancel.
“This conference also presents an excellent opportunity for the Wisconsin
delegation members to build new connections for themselves and Wisconsin’s
dairy and agriculture sectors.”
In addition to leading
the delegation on visits to several large dairy and mix-use farms for
first-hand tours, Brancel is scheduled to meet separately with high-level
officials including the Secretary of the Aguascalientes Department of Dairy and
Agriculture, representatives from the Department of Dairy and Agriculture of
Queretaro, and the director of the veterinary program at the University of
Cuauhtemoc, Aguascalientes for a working meeting on cooperative efforts between
the university and the University of Wisconsin veterinary and agriculture
schools.
Nine Wisconsin companies
will showcase products, goods and technology to tens of thousands of Expo Leche
conference attendees, and they’ll also benefit from networking opportunities
and one-on-one meetings with industry buyers and investors.
“This trade mission will allow us to further establish our working
relationship with government leaders and dairy representatives in Mexico,” said
Enrique Gandara, business development consultant with DATCPs International
Agribusiness Center, which is helping organize the trade mission. “By making
valuable connections, we are better able to provide ground level guidance to
Wisconsin companies on how to export to Mexico.”
Since 1966, the International
Agribusiness Center, part of DATCP’s Division of Agricultural Development, has
provided export assistance to Wisconsin’s food and agriculture industry.
Services include export education, market access support and market development
and promotion.
For more information,
visit https://datcp.wi.gov/Pages/Growing_WI/InternationalAgribusiness.aspx
XXX