November 17, 2015

 

 

Agriculture Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden is leading a US trade mission to sub-Saharan Africa from November 16 to 20, to expand export opportunities for US food and agricultural products in that market.

 

The mission includes leaders from five state departments of agriculture (Arkansas, Kansas, Nebraska, North Carolina and Texas), 22 US agribusiness companies and four US agricultural commodity trade associations representing a variety of agricultural products including grains and feeds, peanuts, soybeans, meat and poultry products, and agricultural machinery.

 

"Sub-Saharan Africa's strong economic outlook, growing middle class, and surging demand for consumer-oriented foods create a promising market for US food and agricultural products," Harden said.  "Over the past decade, US agricultural exports to this region increased by more than 50 percent, totalling $2.3 billion in 2014."

 

Harden said many of the mission participants are small or medium-sized enterprises owned by women, minorities and/or veterans. 

 

The delegation will meet with potential customers from more than a dozen countries across Sub-Saharan Africa, forging relationships and learning about the market conditions and business environment in the region. 

 

Top Sub-Saharan Africa markets for US agricultural and related products last year included Nigeria ($847 million), Angola ($298 million) South Africa ($259 million), Ghana ($129 million), Kenya ($69 million) and Ethiopia ($83 million).

Following are the US companies participating in the Sub-Saharan Africa Agribusiness Trade Mission: 

 

* Zafi Beverages, Bensenville, Illinois

US Department of Agriculture cooperators:

 

* USA Rice Federation, Arlington, Virginia-Rick Alberto