USDA Trade Mission Underway in Dubai
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Feb. 15, 2022 – Foreign Agricultural Service Administrator Daniel Whitley arrived in Dubai today to launch the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s first trade mission since November 2019. Whitley is kicking off the trade mission for U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, who arrives in Dubai on Friday, with a delegation of representatives from U.S. agribusinesses, farm organizations and state departments of agriculture who are interested in exploring export opportunities across the Middle East.
“I am thrilled that USDA trade missions are back, and I am honored to lead such a dynamic group of U.S. agribusinesses and representatives to the UAE,” Whitley said. “I’m confident they will all find success and discover more and better export opportunities in the Middle East region. With annual agricultural exports averaging more than $1.2 billion during the last five years, the United States is the UAE’s fourth-largest supplier of food and farm products and is poised for further export growth.”
Trade mission participants will engage directly with potential customers, receive in-depth market briefings, and participate in site visits, including Expo Dubai 2020.
Whitley will hold a media teleconference from Dubai on Thurs., Feb. 17, at 12:30 p.m. ET. Credentialed reporters interested in participating should RSVP to FAS-press@usda.gov by 1 p.m. ET on Wed., Feb. 16, for dial-in instructions. For complete coverage of the trade mission, follow FAS on Twitter @USDAForeignAg or visit https://www.fas.usda.gov/topics/trade-missions.
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