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Governor Pillen Visits Stores, Touts Trade Opportunities on Trip to Vietnam
LINCOLN, NE – Governor Jim Pillen is midway through a trip to Vietnam, aimed largely at promoting Nebraska agriculture and food products to consumers in that country. The trade mission, the governor’s first, started July 9 and will wrap up July 15.
Gov. Pillen is leading a delegation from Nebraska that includes Director Sherry Vinton of the Nebraska Department of Agriculture, Chancellor Dr. Joanne Li of the University of Nebraska – Omaha, plus ag-related business, academic and government representatives.
Visits have included the MM Mega Market and the New Viet Dairy, a Vietnamese store. Both locations operate grocery stores that import significant quantities of U.S. meat products, including beef, into Vietnam. In addition to inspecting the products, members of the delegation also had the opportunity to see how they were marketed to shoppers. During one of those stops, Gov. Pillen spoke with media representatives from Vietnam, touting key objectives of the trade mission.
“It is very informative to learn about what consumers are looking for at the grocery store and to see how our products are displayed,” said Gov. Pillen. “Understanding that will allow us to cater more specifically to the desires of those customers, in a way that is beneficial to Nebraska farmers, producers and other related businesses.”
The first stop on the trade mission included a briefing from the office of the U.S. Consulate. In addition to visiting both shopping markets, the Governor also spoke at a reception for business and government contacts. Meetings are slated with a variety of agriculture and trade ministers, where Gov. Pillen will continue to focus on building trade, investment, economic development and educational opportunities with Vietnam moving forward.
