Partial Opening of Nigeria Exciting News for U.S. Red Meat

U.S. sausages have gained access to a promising new market – Nigeria. With more than 200 million residents, Nigeria's population is by far the largest in Africa and ranks seventh largest in the world.

Although Nigeria remains closed to all raw U.S. beef, pork and lamb, Matt Copeland, U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) representative in Africa, says it is an intriguing destination for U.S. red meat products and has excellent growth potential. He cautions that Nigeria can be a difficult market from a regulatory standpoint, but sees significant opportunities for U.S. sausages in the country's rapidly developing retail sector.

USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom is also excited about the prospects for U.S. red meat in Nigeria. He compares the retail environment in the capital city of Lagos to the situation in Mexico City 25 to 30 years ago and feels the U.S. meat industry can definitely capitalize on this new opportunity.

TRANSCRIPT

# # #

The U.S. Meat Export Federation (www.USMEF.org) is the trade association responsible for developing international markets for the U.S. red meat industry. It is funded by USDA; the beef, pork, lamb, corn and soybean checkoff programs, as well as its members representing nine industry sectors: beef/veal producing & feeding, pork producing & feeding, lamb producing & feeding, packing & processing, purveying & trading, oilseeds producing, feedgrains producing, farm organizations and supply & service organizations. USMEF complies with all equal opportunity, non-discrimination and affirmative action measures applicable to it by contract, government rule or regulation or as otherwise provided by law. USMEF is an equal opportunity employer and provider.