ST. PAUL
The Minnesota Agriculture Department today announced a trade mission to Vietnam for later this year.
The announcement came as Gov. Mark Dayton leaves Minnesota for Japan and South Korea on his first trade mission as governor. He returns on Oct. 1.
The Vietnam mission is to provide farm management education to Vietnamese hog producers in an effort to increase export opportunities for Minnesota companies that sell feed grains, livestock supplements and genetic products.
"Vietnam's demand for pork products is skyrocketing and farmers there are eager to buy higher quality feed and learn better farm management practices," Agriculture Commissioner Dave Frederickson said. "With steady economic growth and rising incomes, Vietnam is an exciting market opportunity for Minnesota agricultural exporters."
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Dayton said that when he talked to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack earlier this year, he suggested trade missions to Vietnam, South Korea and Singapore might be worthwhile, especially for Minnesota's agriculture community. Vilsack is a former Iowa governor.
Frederickson said trade mission participants, who can sign up for the trip through Oct. 7, will be able to meet with Vietnamese farmers and potential buyers of their products.
The trip will be Nov. 27 through Dec. 3. It will include one-on-one meetings with prospective buyers in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, receptions to get to know Vietnamese, visits to feed mills, meetings with government officials and discussions with hog producers.
Christina Connelly (651-201-6220 or christina.connelly@state.mn.us ) is the department's contact for the trip.
Don Davis reports for Forum Communications Co., which owns the Herald.
