Trade and Investment Missions (TIMs) have been conducted in many countries and regions, including Bulgaria, East Africa, the Dominican Republic, the Republic of Georgia, Kazakhstan, Madagascar, North Africa, Romania, and Southern and West Africa.  Future missions are proposed for Central America, the Philippines, and Peru.

Since late 2005, six missions have been conducted. 

• In November 2005, 15 U.S. and 66 African companies participated in the SouthernAfrica TIM, resulting in U.S. sales of $10.04 million and African sales of $1.935 million.  Sectors promoted included seafood, general agriculture, beverages, food processing, technology, aquaculture, livestock genetics, horticulture, and fertilizer inputs. 
   

• In July 2006, 17 U.S. and 25 Kazakhstani agribusinesses participated in the U.S.–Kazakhstan TIM, resulting in U.S. sales of $7.5 million and Kazak sales of $500,000.  Former Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns led the mission, during which he held bilateral consultations with the Kazakh President, Deputy Prime Minister, Agriculture Minister, and the U.S. Ambassador.  The Secretary discussed trade issues and assured continued U.S. technical assistance to help Kazakhstan integrate into the world trading system. 
   

• In February 2007, 13 U.S. and more than 75 African agribusinesses participated the East Africa TIM, resulting in U.S. sales of $15.8 million and African sales of $400,000. Sectors promoted included seafood, dairy, meat and poultry, processed goods, beverages, food processing and agriculture processing technology, aquaculture, livestock genetics, and horticulture.  This mission resulted in the development of a joint horticulture project in Rwanda to plant bamboo in controlled nurseries for reforestation, afforestation, soil erosion, and water filtration.  Bamboo can be used for food, paper pulp and textiles production, bio-mass, bio-feed for livestock, lumber, medicine, and hygiene products.  Once the bamboo plantations are established, bamboo shoots could be harvested beginning in the fifth year with timber being harvested by the seventh year.  Once production begins, the plantations will continue to produce annually for 40-60 years before replanting is necessary.  This is a sustainable project providing jobs, economic stability, and improved lifestyles for people residing in the area. 
   

• In June 2007, 10 U.S. and more than 150 Georgian agribusinesses participated the second U.S.-Georgia TIM, resulting in $2.5 million in U.S. sales and $500,000 in Georgian sales.   Sectors promoted included meat and poultry, seafood, processed goods, beverages, food processing and agriculture processing technology, aquaculture, and livestock genetics. 

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  In March 2008, 17 U.S. and more than 125 African agribusinesses participated in the West and Central Africa TIM, resulting in $6.6 million in U.S. sales and no African sales to date.  Sectors promoted included seafood, biofuels, processed goods, seeds, beverages, meat and poultry, dairy products, food processing, agricultural equipment, aquaculture, livestock genetics, and horticulture. 
   

• In April 2008, 17 U.S. and more than 75 African agribusinesses participated in the North Africa TIM.  U.S. and African sales data are not available yet.  Sectors promoted included seafood, biofuels, processed goods, seeds, beverages, meat and poultry, dairy products, food processing, agricultural equipment, aquaculture, livestock genetics, and horticulture. 

For more information, please contact:

Darrell A. Upshaw
USDA/Foreign Agricultural Service
Tel.: 202-690-1786

Email: Darrell.upshaw@fas.usda.gov