Contact: Ashley Huibregtse, 608-224-5002, ashley.huibregtse@wisconsin.gov
Jim Dick, Communications Director, 608-224-5020, jim.dick@wi.gov
MADISON – The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) reminds media to connect with DATCP on Twitter at twitter.com/widatcp or Facebook at facebook.com/widatcp for the latest updates and photos from the State of Wisconsin’s first trade visit to Vietnam. Still photos and insights from the first two days of travel are available now.
Secretary Ben Brancel and Jennifer Lu, a DATCP Economic Development Consultant, are traveling to Ho Chi Minh City, Vinh, and Hanoi through January 14, 2012. Governor Walker has asked his cabinet to explore opportunities for economic growth in the state and that’s the purpose of this visit, to identify opportunities and challenges for Wisconsin businesses hoping to export in the Vietnamese marketplace and build relationships for future trade missions that could eventually lead to increased agricultural exports to the country.
Funding for the trip was provided by the U.S. Livestock Genetics Export, Inc. (USGLE). While in Vietnam, Brancel and Lu will attend meetings with officials, retailers, importers, and farmers.
In the past several years, trade between Vietnam and Wisconsin has grown significantly. In 2010, trade between Vietnam and Wisconsin increased 101 percent over 2009, ranking Wisconsin 15th in the nation for agricultural exports to that Southeast Asian country. Top exports to Vietnam from Wisconsin in 2010 included: whey, hides and skins, sugars, dried distillers grains (livestock feed), and soybeans.
Vietnam is one of the fastest-growing economies in Southeast Asia with a young and dynamic population of nearly 90 million. Following this visit, DATCP’s International Trade Team will work to encourage and assist business partnerships between potential Vietnamese buyers and Wisconsin agribusinesses.
