PORTLAND – The Maine International Trade Center is offering opportunities to market in Cuba.
Cuba spends $1 billion on food imports a year. That figure is expected to grow to $1.5 billion by 2005. The direct export of food products to Cuba was made possible when the Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act passed in 2000. The Maine International Trade Center has made this program possible to assist Maine companies that are first-time exporters to Cuba .
The Maine International Trade Center has gathered together an experienced food trader who has successfully entered the Cuban market and an expert in food export regulations, and federal market access programs for a morning filled with critical international trade information for the food and beverage exporter. The program will be held Thursday, June 5, at the Shipyard Brewery in Portland. Registration begins at 9:30 a.m.
David Radlo of Radlo Foods will present the opportunities, procedures and difficulties in exporting to the Cuban market. A review of the past 18 months of business in Cuba including recent food shows and growth potential in the Cuban market will be discussed. Sectors covered will include eggs, seafood, apples, other commodities and other value added food products. The format will include a 10-minute compilation of media stories on business in the past year, discussion of opportunities, and a question and answer session.
Suzanne Milshaw from Food Export USA EUSAFEC will discuss marketing monies available through the “Branded” program for small and medium sized U.S. food and wood companies exporting to “approved countries.” Food Export USA covers up to 50 percent of the cost of trade show booths on certain domestic trade shows and for most overseas shows.
The Maine International Trade Center is a public/private partnership providing international trade development assistance to Maine businesses that are active, or seeking to become active internationally. The Trade Center is a member-based organization with offices in Portland, Lewiston and Bangor. For more information phone 541-7474.
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