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(Lincoln, NE) Gov. Dave Heineman announced that he will lead a 10-member trade delegation to Cuba from Aug. 13 to 17. The visit will provide the chance to explore export opportunities for the state’s agricultural products, as well as medical supplies. This will be the Governor’s first trade mission since taking office in January.
The Governor stressed that his trip will focus on trade, not politics. The ongoing U.S. embargo on trade with Cuba has specific exceptions for the export of food, agricultural products and medical supplies.
“International politics have nothing to do with this trip,” Gov. Heineman said. “We will be working within established legal parameters to try to help our farmers and ranchers access a new and fertile market for the high-quality products produced in Nebraska.”
Those joining the Governor for the trade mission include representatives of Nebraska’s bean, corn and wheat producers, as well as representatives from the Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA), the University of Nebraska, and First National Bank of Omaha.
NDA director Greg Ibach and his staff have been working to organize the trip since the Governor’s announcement last month that he would send a delegation to Cuba. An advance team has been sent to begin laying the groundwork for the upcoming trade mission.
Congress approved exceptions for food and medical supplies in 2000. Since then Cuba has become an emerging market for U.S. agricultural products, importing more than $1 billion in U.S. agricultural products in recent years, and has gone from 226th largest market for U.S. agriculture exports to the 21st. Last year the U.S. exported $400 million in products to Cuba.
Cuban officials have expressed strong interest in importing dry beans, which are among Nebraska’s top producing crops. In 2004, Nebraska ranked first in the nation in great northern bean production, second in pinto bean and third in dry edible bean production. Cuba is also the largest importer of wheat and wheat products in the Caribbean.
In addition to the Governor and Ibach, the trade delegation will include Stan Garbacz of NDA, Charlie Witmer of Stateline Bean Producers Cooperative, Brett Morrison of Nebraska Bean Inc., Bryce Kelley of Kelley Bean Corp., Mark Jagels of the Nebraska Corn Board, David Hilferty of the Nebraska Wheat Board, Chuck Hibberd of the NU Panhandle Research and Extension Center, and Paul Warfield of First National Bank of Omaha.
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