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The Director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development, Jamie Clover-Adams, and the International Marketing Program traveled with Governor Snyder on a ten-day trade mission to China and Japan in September.
The trip to China began in Shanghai and then proceeded to Beijing after a stop in Tokyo, Japan. During this time we stopped at a wide variety of places including; U.S.D.A. Foreign Agricultural Service’s (FAS) Agricultural Trade Office in Shanghai and Beijing, the Yangshan Free Trade Zone and port, U.S. Dairy Export Council, Beijing Municipal Bureau of Agriculture and U.S. Soybean Export Council. According to Jamie Zmitko-Somers, International Marketing Program Manager, “the Chinese market offers great potential for Michigan food and agriculture companies as the growing middle class in China is looking for safe high quality food products.” Currently, Michigan exports almost one-third of the crops grown here, with the top five agricultural exports being soybeans, corn, wheat, dairy products, and fresh and processed fruit. The top five countries eager for Michigan-grown products are Canada, Mexico, Japan, Korea, and China. To learn more about Michigan’s food and agriculture industry watch our new video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gq_NM0SObXI.
Following the trip to China, the International Marketing Program had the opportunity to host the Taiwanese Agriculture Goodwill Mission who spent their time in Michigan touring local farms, hearing about soybean and corn research, and signing a letter of intent to purchase Michigan grown corn and soybeans. The delegation was very interested in learning about growing practices and technologies used in Michigan. It was great being able to show them how we grow our outstanding Michigan products. “I am excited for this new partnership between Michigan and Taiwan,” said Jamie Clover Adams, MDARD Director. “This provides a great opportunity for our Michigan corn and soybean growers and processors to forge new relationships and expand their export opportunities in the Taiwan market.”
State Senator Joe Hune and MDARD Director Clover Adams attended the Michigan-Taiwan Soybean and Corn Signing Ceremony at the Governor’s Residence in Lansing as witnesses to the bilateral trade commitment between the Michigan Corn Marketing Program and the Taiwan Feed Industry Association, as well as the Michigan Soybean Promotion Committee and the Taiwan Vegetable Oil Manufacturers Association.
To foster this developing relationship, the Taiwan Delegation anticipates the purchase of over $3.3 billion of U.S. soybeans and corn products in 2014 and 2015.
Companies interested in learning more about the International Marketing Program can visit www.michigan.gov/agexport, or contact Jamie Zmitko-Somers, International Marketing Manager, at (517)-284-5738 or zmitkoj@michigan.gov. Please, “follow” the International Marketing Program on Twitter @MiAgExport, and “like” the International Marketing Program at https://www.facebook.com/MiAgExport on Facebook!
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