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U.S. Agribusinesses Build Trade Relationships, Seek Export Success in Vietnam

Published:

September 30, 2011

For the past week, it has been my privilege to lead USDA’s first-ever agricultural trade mission to a country with one of the world’s fastest-growing economies–Vietnam.

Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services Michael Scuse, U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam David Shear, and Consul General An Le of the U.S. Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City cut the ribbon to open the USDA-endorsed USA Pavilion at the Food and Hotel Vietnam trade show in Ho Chi Minh City on Sept. 28. The USA Pavilion is the largest ever at this trade show, featuring 28 U.S. companies representing a wide variety of agricultural goods and products. Scuse is in Vietnam leading USDA’s first-ever agricultural trade mission there. Photo by Le Sy Hoang Chuong

I began my trip in Hanoi, where I met with government and agricultural officials and visited some of the city’s most historical and cultural hubs, including the Pho Hue Wet Market, where I was introduced to some of Vietnam’s unique, local cuisine.

From there, I flew to Ho Chi Minh City where I joined 15 U.S. businesses representing a wide range of food and agricultural products. While here, they met with more than 150 Vietnamese producers, importers, buyers, distributers and investors, to focus on building new trade relationships.

For these U.S. companies, the opportunities here are huge. Vietnam is a growing country of nearly 90 million consumers. Two-way trade between our countries reached an all-time high of nearly $3.4 billion last year. In fact, since 2006, no other major U.S. agricultural export market has grown as quickly as Vietnam. And the U.S.-Vietnam partnership only continues to grow.

On Wednesday, I witnessed trade relationships being forged on the grounds of Food and Hotel Vietnam, which is one of Southeast Asia’s premier food trade shows. More than 360 exhibitors from 31 countries showcased their products to nearly 8,000 visitors.

Acting Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services Michael Scuse (left) meets Vietnam’s Vice Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Diep Kinh Tan in Hanoi on Sept. 25. As part of USDA’s trade mission to Vietnam, Scuse is meeting with Vietnamese government and agriculture officials and encouraging increased agricultural collaboration and trade between the United States and Vietnam. Photo by Le Nguyen-Binh

The sold-out, USDA-endorsed USA pavilion at the trade show was the largest to date with 28 companies displaying potatoes, health and nutrition foods, popcorn, poultry, beef, pork, frozen foods, snack foods and more. All of the U.S. products on display epitomize the reliability and high-quality that consumers around the world have come to appreciate and expect.

By hosting this trade mission and others around the world, USDA is helping to achieve the National Export Initiative (NEI) goal of doubling all U.S. exports by 2014. This not only helps rebuild our country’s economy, but also promotes U.S. job growth. After all, every $1 billion in agricultural exports supports 8,400 American jobs.