Weekly USMEF Audio Report: Meat Buyers from Southeast Asia Meet with U.S. Suppliers...

Published: Oct 13, 2009

Oct. 13, 2009 - Southeast Asia’s ASEAN region has emerged as a major destination for U.S. pork and beef exports and captured the interest of a growing number of U.S. suppliers. Recently, the U.S. Meat Export Federation brought U.S. and ASEAN business contacts together for a “Meet the Buyers” conference in Denver.

U.S. processors, traders and exporters saw the conference as a valuable opportunity to make business connections in a heavily populated region that holds great growth potential for U.S. exports. Buyers, importers and distributors from the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam had the opportunity to meet face-to-face with these suppliers to discuss their product needs and share information about their markets. Prior to the Denver event, participants from the ASEAN region toured Cargill’s beef processing plant in Dodge City, Kan., the National Beef processing plant in Liberal, Kan., the Seaboard Foods pork plant in Guymon, Okla., and the JBS beef plant in Greeley, Colo.

In the attached audio segment, Imelda Ventus, purchasing manager for DOP Philippines, Inc., shares her thoughts on the conference and the other activities she experienced during her visit to the United States.

Craig Rempp, vice president of sales and marketing for LPB, Inc. in Earlham,Iowa, also found the event to be an exceptionally valuable opportunity. Founded in 2001, LPB is a family-owned custom pork processor that is looking to further expand its international presence and to deal more directly with its clientele in the ASEAN region.

Buyers, importers and distributors from the ASEAN region meet with U.S. meat industry representatives

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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 and is funded by USDA, exporting companies, and the beef, pork, corn and soybean checkoff programs.

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.