Trade visits to Cuba help Nebraska farmers, governor says
BY MARTHA STODDARD
WORLD-HERALD BUREAU
LINCOLN - Gov. Dave Heineman said trade visits to Cuba have helped
Nebraska farmers and ranchers make nearly $40 million worth of sales there.
Heineman said Wednesday that Nebraska has gained an edge over other
states because its trade missions have been led by the state's top
officials.
The governor will leave Sunday for another round of meetings and
negotiations with officials from Alimport, the Cuban import authority.
"The goal of my administration is to continually seek opportunities for
agricultural producers," Heineman said.
The upcoming mission will be Heineman's third to the island nation since
2005. Lt. Gov. Rick Sheehy led another trade mission last year.
The trip will include a meeting with the leader of Cuba's National
Assembly, as well as tours of the port area in Havana and other parts of
the country's food processing and distribution network.
Heineman said he doesn't know whether he will have an opportunity to
meet with Cuban leader Fidel Castro, as he did during his previous two
visits. Both audiences were unscheduled and initiated by Castro. Both
occurred before Castro's recent illness.
The 31-member delegation will be the state's largest. Among those going
are Greg Ibach, director of the Department of Agriculture, and Richard
Baier, director of the Department of Economic Development, and
representatives of various agricultural producers.
Federal law bans most trade with Cuba but allows the sale of food,
agricultural commodities and medical supplies to the island.
Nebraska has sold dry beans, wheat, soybean products, pork products and
turkeys to Cuba so far. Heineman said Baier will be exploring the
possibilities for sales of medical products.
Previous trade missions have yielded promises from Cuba to buy $60
million worth of Nebraska products. Actual sales will hit $38.9 million
as of Sunday's departure date, Ibach said.
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