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Inaugural WTC agricultural committee meets in New Orleans

Inaugural WTC agricultural committee meets in New Orleans
Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain, D.V.M., told a group of Louisiana exporters gathered for the inaugural meeting of the World Trade Center of New Orleans’ Agriculture Committee that agricultural exports will continue to play a major factor in the economy of the future.
“This year, our agricultural exports will be greater than $138 billion & creating a trade surplus of more than $42 billion in this sector,” Strain said. “Agriculture is one of the few sectors of American industry that has a positive balance of trade.”
Representatives of Louisiana ’s rice, cotton, forestry, restaurant, seafood and aquaculture, food manufacturing, marketing, government, & educational research institutions attended the Nov. 28 meeting held in the Plimsol Club at the Westin Hotel in New Orleans .
Jerry Hingle, executive director of the Southern United States Trade Association and chair of the committee, said the goal of the committee is to provide a unified voice for Louisiana ’s agriculture and food sector on international trade issues to advance the state’s global competitiveness.
“We’re trying to provide a forum that can connect the dots among those that can enhance our global competitiveness,” Hingle said. “More agricultural products are exported from Louisiana than any other state in the nation.”
Hingle said rice, soybeans, cotton, feed grains, feeds and fodder are Louisiana ’s top agricultural exports. The total value of those exports was $912.7 million in 2010.
Strain said there is an extremely large market for Louisiana ’s agricultural products overseas and hopes Louisiana producers can take advantage of the foreign market.
“Population and economic growth in other countries is expanding at a rapid rate,” Strain said. “It is estimated that 95 percent of the world’s consumers are outside the United States but only one American company out of a hundred export their goods overseas. There is a tremendous opportunity for the American producer.”
Dominik Knoll, the chief executive officer of the World Trade Center New Orleans, said the New Orleans office was the first American World Trade Center .
“We provide information in the areas of research, consulting, marketing and sponsor trade missions that can help you take advantage of the international market,” Knoll said.
The group will meet quarterly and all agricultural and food production stakeholders are invited to participate, Knoll said.
For more information, contact the World Trade Center of New Orleans at 504-529-1601 or email info@wtcno.org.