Mission took place between August 23rd and 26th
By Diego Flammini, Farms.com
In an effort to draw attention to the importance Georgia’s agriculture sector, its impact on the state’s economy and potential for market expansion, Commissioner of Agriculture Gary Black led a delegation to Panama between August 23rd and 26th.
Members representing aquaculture, forestry, pecans, peaches, livestock feed and other interests attended the mission and received information on the Panama Canal expansion. The 50-mile canal saves 4,000 miles of travel around Cape Horn and the United States is the canal’s primary customer.
“Georgia agriculture is well positioned to serve the needs of both the U.S. and beyond, including Central America,” Commissioner Black said. “We are very pleased with the relationships we were able to establish and advance through this visit.”
Black added that one of the attendees had been contacted by a retailer only 24 hours after returning from the mission.
An economic connection between the state of Georgia and Panama has been in the works since at least 2010 when the Georgia Institute of Technology established the Logistics Innovation and Research Center in Panama City.
In 2012, Georgia exported nearly $175 million of goods to Panama with poultry being the top agricultural export.
According to the Foreign Agricultural Service, the United States exported $667 million of agricultural products to Panama in 2014 – up 17% from 2013. The top exports were soybean meal, corn, dairy wheat and processed food.