Release Date: June 27, 2019
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Media Contact: Rick Hummell, Senior Communications
Specialist
608-224-5041 richard.hummell@wi.gov
MADISON – Led by the International Trade Team at the Department
of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP), five Wisconsin
agriculture-based companies are heading to Bogotá, Colombia from July 11-21 to exhibit products, services and
technology at AgroExpo 2019. Held bi-annually, AgroExpo draws more than 175,000
attendees and is one of South America’s largest agricultural trade shows.
The Wisconsin companies will be housed in the “Wisconsin
Pavilion,” where they will display products and services to thousands of trade
show attendees each day. Delegation members will have one-on-one meetings with
pre-qualified buyers, network with industry and government officials, and
attend several off-site events including farm tours and meetings with representatives
of dairy-related associations and cooperatives.
The Wisconsin delegation is scheduled to meet with
representatives of the Latin American Jersey Breeders Association, the
Colombian Jersey Association, the Latin American Jersey Association, and Colombian
Secretary of Agriculture Andres Valencia Pinzon.
“Colombia is a desirable destination for Midwest feed, feed
ingredient, livestock genetics and agricultural equipment exports,” said
Enrique Gandara, an economic development consultant with DATCP’s International
Trade Team who helped organize the trade mission. “We have attended AgroExpo in
past years with many positive results, and our connection with the Colombian
marketplace continues to grow. Our goals are to continue to connect with key
buyers and influential government leaders and increase our exports to
Colombia.”
Wisconsin exported nearly $12 million in agricultural and food
products to Colombia in 2018. Top exports included food preparations
(sauces, condiments and yeast extracts); raw materials for beverages; prepared
vegetables; milled products (cereals, wheat, malt); and dairy products.
“Wisconsin is always seeking new buyers in the
international marketplace and Colombia has one of the largest economies in
Central and South America,” said Mark Rhoda-Reis, director of DATCP’s
International Agribusiness Center. “We are known around the world for quality
products, advanced technology, renowned research institutions and agricultural
expertise. Wisconsin is poised to benefit from increased access to the
Colombian markets.”
The trade mission is funded in part by a U.S. Small Business
Administration STEP Grant secured through the assistance of the Wisconsin
Economic Development Corporation (WEDC).
Since 1966, the International Agribusiness Center of the
Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection 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
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