Applications are due by Friday, October 2nd
By Diego Flammini, Farms.com
The United States Department of Agriculture is set to embark on an agricultural trade mission to Accra, Ghana from November 17th to 20th, 2015.
Sub-Saharan region of Africa
The mission will be led by Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Krysta Harden and aims to expand agricultural export avenues for the United States in sub-Saharan Africa.
"Two years ago, I led a mission to southern Africa to launch USDA's Sub-Saharan Africa Trade Initiative, which aims to expand U.S. agricultural and commercial ties in the region," Harden said in a press release. "I am excited to return to Africa with a new group of U.S. agricultural leaders to further explore market opportunities, especially for small, minority and women-owned businesses."
While on the mission, the delegation will interact with potential customers from nearly 12 countries across the sub-Saharan region of Africa. The mission will feature companies representing agricultural products, representatives from state departments of agriculture and other American agricultural organizations.
Agricultural exports to the African region have grown in the past 10 years, totaling $2.3 billion worth of ag-exports in 2014.
The top African destinations for American agricultural exports in 2014 were:
- Nigeria ($883 million)
- Angola ($300 million)
- South Africa ($298 million)
- Ghana ($151 million)
- Kenya ($87 million)
- Ethiopia ($83 million)
People interested in attending the trade mission are encouraged to fill out applications. They are currently being accepted and must be submitted by Friday, October 2nd.
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