September 11 , 2013
www.gfb.org
Vol. 31 No. 37
DUVALL PARTICIPATES IN TRADE TRIP TO ASIA Georgia Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall was part of a group of Georgia stakeholders who visited China and Japan during a trip to Asia Aug. 22-30 with the goal of strengthening trade ties in those countries and increasing the awareness of the Georgia brand. The trip, headed by Gov. Nathan Deal, included representatives from several of the state’s key sectors, including higher education, transportation and tourism. Commissioner of Agriculture Gary Black and representatives of the Georgia Farm Bureau, Columbia Farms, Patten Seed Co., Russell Landscape Group, and R.W. Griffin Feed, Seed & Fertilizer marketed Georgia as a source of agricultural products to meet various needs in China. “I was there to speak for Georgia farmers. In international trade, especially in the Asian area, relationships are very important,” Duvall said. “They like to be able to look in the eyes of people they’re going to be dealing with. So I think building those relationships was important.” Duvall said he also wanted to discover what role GFB can play in the state’s efforts to develop markets overseas, particularly in light of the expansions of both the Panama Canal and the Port of Savannah. “We can introduce farmers into what might be a potential market for them in the future,” Duvall said, noting that expanding overseas markets will be a primary focus of the International Agribusiness Conference & Expo to be held in Savannah Sept. 25-27. “A part of our policy is to promote Georgia products, not just in our country but internationally.” The Georgia agricultural delegation met with companies already buying Georgia poultry products and pecans and talked with others about the possibility of importing Georgia blueberries. “Their concerns are our concerns,” Duvall said. “They prefer an uninterrupted supply of products that are of good quality.” As the world’s fastest-growing large economy, China represents a significant growth market for the state of Georgia. The country is the second-largest export destination for Georgia businesses. With more than $3.6 billion in exports to China annually, Georgia leads the United States in exports of carpets, poultry, aircraft and wood products to China. Duvall praised Deal for leading the trip to Asia, noting that when international business partnerships are formed, the benefits extend to Georgia’s farmers and consumers. “We’re very fortunate to have a governor who has the vision to develop those partnerships and works hard at doing that,” Duvall said. “He represents us well, and the friendships he’s built in both of those countries has been very healthy for all of us.”