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(Lincoln, NE) Gov. Dave Heineman will lead an 18-member delegation as part of his second international trade mission to Cuba. The Nebraska trade delegation will be negotiating contracts for the purchase of agricultural products. The Governor is scheduled to be in Havana from Oct. 31 through Nov. 2.
Upon returning from his first international trade mission, the Governor announced his intention to return to Cuba during Havana's International Trade Fair. Agreeing to the second trip helped secure a $30 million trade agreement with Cuban commodity importer Alimport. State Agriculture Director Greg Ibach will also make the second trip.
"Our goal for the first trip was to lay the groundwork that would provide Nebraska producers with access to Cuba," Gov. Heineman said. "We were successful in our efforts to open the door for Nebraska's high-quality agricultural products, and this trip is an important step that will strengthen our export relationships for the future."
The August trade agreement signed by the Governor and Alimport Chairman Pedro Alvarez states the Cuban government's intent to enter into private contracts with Nebraska producers for the purchase of agricultural products including corn, wheat, soybeans, beef and beans. It is the single largest agreement signed with an American state.
Ibach said, "Our department has been working these past few months with Nebraska producers and Cuban officials to facilitate contracts for the sale and shipment of goods. Our producers are concluding a harvest season with increased fuel and shipping costs. They will benefit from growing a new export market 90 miles from U.S. soil."
The delegation will include Ibach and ag department representatives Stan Garbacz and Richard Sanne; Charles Whitmer of Stateline Bean in Bridgeport; Brett Morrison of Nebraska Bean in Clearwater; Gerald Timmerman of Nebraska Beef in Springfield; Glen Heitritter of Ag Processing Inc. in Omaha; Reid Adkins of International Nutrition in Omaha; Ron Stoddard, Patricia Nelson, Donna Sturdy, and Rick Larson of the Nebraska Wheat Board in Lincoln; Jack Revelle of the Nebraska Dry Bean Commission in Scottsbluff; Craig Henkel and Michael Hoehn of the Nebraska Dry Bean Growers Association in Scottsbluff; and Norman Husa and Gregory Anderson of the Nebraska Soybean Board in Lincoln.
Several members of the Nebraska delegation will depart ahead of the Governor to attend the trade expo. The U.S. Congress passed exceptions to the federal trade embargo with Cuba in 2000 for the sale of agricultural products and medical supplies.
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