Gov. Heineman Announces Upcoming Asian Trade Mission

Lt. Gov. Heidemann to Lead Trade Mission in September (Lincoln, Neb.) Today, Gov. Dave Heineman announced that Lt. Gov. Lavon Heidemann will lead a delegation of Nebraskans on a trade mission to Taiwan and Japan Sept. 2-13. This will be the 12th foreign or reverse trade mission of the Governor’s administration. “Our Asian trade missions represent important opportunities to explore agriculture and business development efforts in key markets,” said Gov. Heineman. “We will use this time to strengthen business relationships and pursue opportunities to develop new connections that will benefit Nebraska communities, while also promoting our agricultural products.” “Nebraska has hosted a variety of business delegations from Taiwan and Japan during the past several years and this trip will be an important opportunity to examine ways to increase investment in our communities and continue strengthening our relationships in the regions,” said Lt. Gov. Heidemann. Greg Ibach, Director of the Nebraska Department of Agriculture, and Catherine Lang, Director of the Nebraska Department of Economic Development are scheduled to make the trip with Lt. Governor Heidemann. The trade mission will provide opportunities for delegation members to meet with government officials, potential trading partners and investors interested in doing business in Nebraska. This trade mission will include a visit to Tokyo where the Lt. Governor will participate in the annual Midwest U.S. – Japan Association Conference, a collection of nine Midwestern states and major Japanese businesses. The delegation will have an opportunity to visit the new Nebraska Center – Japan, the state’s first foreign trade office which opened in 2006. The delegation will meet with business and government leaders including the Governors of the Saitama and Kanagawa prefectures. In Taiwan, Nebraska leaders will receive an update on a trade agreement signed during a visit in 2010. At that time, Nebraska delegates signed an agreement worth an estimated $450 million in future sales of corn, soybeans and wheat between Taiwanese importers and private suppliers. Japan is Nebraska’s largest foreign direct investor having invested more than $4.4 billion into the state since 2010. Japan is Nebraska’s fourth largest export market with $468 million in exports in 2012. Taiwan is Nebraska’s 13th largest export market with $94 million in exports in 2012, but was the state’s 10th largest agricultural export market that year.