GDEcD & SUSTA Welcome Food Retail Buyers from Mexico
GDEcD recently collaborated with the Southern United States Trade Association (SUSTA) to welcome an inbound trade mission from Mexico in September. Sometimes referred to as reverse trade missions, inbound missions bring delegations of vetted foreign buyers to meet one-on-one with Georgia companies, creating opportunities for local businesses to cultivate international partnerships without the burden of traveling to a foreign country.
Nine companies from Georgia’s food and agriculture sector participated in September’s inbound mission spending a full day engaged in B2B meetings organized by GDEcD and SUSTA. Participating companies include:
During their visit to Georgia, the Mexican buyers also toured local food retail facilities and gained exposure to a variety of Georgia Grown products.
The value of trade missions
Inbound and outbound trade missions provide companies a convenient path to international markets as well as an opportunity for the state to strengthen its trade relationships with major export partners.
The unique nature of inbound trade missions helps companies boost their international sales without having to venture too far from home. GDEcD and SUSTA facilitate all logistics and provide a low-barrier environment to connect with key international buyers.
During the inbound mission, GDEcD and SUSTA facilitated a personalized meeting schedule tailored to the needs of each company. Participating companies frequently strike up new deals as a result of connections made during the B2B segment of each mission.
In addition to bringing buyers to Georgia, SUSTA and GDEcD organize outbound missions that take companies abroad to develop partnerships and sales opportunities in promising markets for Georgia products.
Focusing on top trade partners & key industries
Target countries for inbound and outbound missions are chosen based on the strength of opportunities in a market and existing trade relationships. Trade missions often center around a specific industry and SUSTA missions focus exclusively on food and agriculture. Importing nearly 50% of its goods from the United States, Mexico is a robust and accessible market for Georgia products, making it an ideal candidate for inbound and outbound trade missions.
Georgia is home to a thriving agricultural industry and in 2018 the state boasted $4.2 billion in total agricultural exports. Mexico is a major export destination for Georgia agricultural products consistently ranking in the top 5 each year. Peanut exports to Mexico alone hit more than $76 million in 2018.
According to the USDA, Mexico’s growing economy and population are driving demand for high-value, consumer-oriented foods which are now the largest category of U.S. agricultural exports to Mexico. SUSTA and GDEcD structured the inbound mission around these trends focusing supplier recruitment on agricultural sectors that show the most promise in the Mexican market.
Building success through exporting
GDEcD’s trade division is committed to helping Georgia companies grow through exporting. Along with missions and trade show events, GDEcD also provides customized export assistance to help Georgia companies take advantage of international opportunities.
Whether its connecting companies with the state’s international representatives, troubleshooting specific export issues, identifying international partners or accessing powerful research through its database tools, GDEcD’s trade division takes a full-service approach to helping Georgia businesses thrive in the international marketplace.
Want to continue the export conversation? Visit us at Georgia.org/Trade or connect with our Trade Outreach Manager at [email protected].
Stay up-to-date on international trade opportunities and upcoming GDEcD trade events by signing up for our monthly newsletter here.
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