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This allows Illinois companies to
display and pitch their products to more than 7,500 potential
buyers. The APEA Expo in Leon, Guanajuato, is the largest exhibition
of technology, equipment, supplies and services for the livestock
industry in Latin America.
"Illinois agriculture depends upon
export sales for a sizable percentage of its income, and Mexico is
among our most loyal trading partners," Gov. Blagojevich said. "We
look forward to renewing our friendship during the APEA Expo and
exploring new avenues of agricultural trade."
Illinois is the fourth-highest
agricultural exporter in the United States. Its $3.4 billion in
export sales in fiscal 2003 accounted for nearly 40 percent of its
income from crop and livestock production. Mexico is the state's
second-largest agricultural export market, behind Canada. In 2004,
the country bought $236 million worth of Illinois agricultural
products.
"The last APEA Expo generated $11
million in sales for our exhibitors," Agriculture Director Chuck
Hartke said. "While this figure is quite impressive, the contacts
that were made during the show will have a far greater value over
time because foreign companies --- like American companies ---
prefer to do business with vendors they know and trust. Our
challenge now is to build upon those relationships and turn those
initial sales into repeat business."
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Two exhibitors in the Illinois pavilion will offer seminars during
the show. U.S. Livestock Genetics Export Inc. will give four
presentations on different aspects of swine production, and the
Chicago Board of Trade will provide forecasts on the direction of
world grain markets and the Mexican peso.
The American Feed Industry
Association and the National Livestock Association of Mexico sponsor
the show.
Illinois
companies scheduled to participate:
- 4B Elevator Components Ltd., East
Peoria
- ADM Bio Productes, Decatur
- BFI Innovations, Wheeling
- Bunge North America, Danville
- Chicago Board of Trade, Chicago
- Dickey-john Corporation, Auburn
- GSI Group Inc., Assumption
- Garvey Processing Inc., St.
Charles
- Milk Specialties Co., Dundee
- Pet-Ag Inc., Hampshire
- Seedburo Equipment Co., Chicago
- Trouw Nutrition USA, Highland
- U.S. Livestock Genetics Export
Inc., Springfield
[News release from the governor's office]
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