News Releases for March 2006
March 10, 2006
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Hoeven Announces Sales In Australia, And Kick Off Of Southeast Asia Trade Mission
BISMARCK, N.D. – Governor John Hoeven today announced that a group of North Dakota companies that produce and market high-quality crops are traveling to Southeast Asia to take part in a trade mission that will connect them with some of the largest food importers and processors in Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand.
Lt. Gov. Jack Dalrymple, who is currently leading a trade team of mostly manufacturers to Australia and New Zealand, will meet the Southeast Asia delegation in Singapore to lead their efforts as well.
The three Southeast Asian countries imported more than 2.6 million tons of soybeans last year. About 400,000 tons were shipped from the United States. Building on the trade mission in Australia and New Zealand, Dalrymple and the North Dakota Trade Office will work to expand trade opportunities in Southeast Asia.
Among their successes in Australia are:
- Duratech Industries International of Jamestown landed a $250,000 manufacturing contract during their first day of meetings. The company will build a large wood chipper for Reharvest Corp., a New Zealand based company that recycles wood pallets.
- Mid-America Aviation Inc., of West Fargo is negotiating an airparts maintenance contract with Quantas Airways, Australia’s leading long-distance airline company. An agreement would likely provide Mid-America with a service contract worth $200,000 to $300,000 a year over the next four years.
- Dickinson based Solar Bee is working on a deal to sell its water aeration systems to three Australian companies that provide wastewater treatment solutions. The consultant companies estimated that they could market as much as $1 million worth of Solar Bee systems within the next 18 months.
- Tri-Steele Manufacturing, of Grand Forks, is negotiation a venture to manufacture pneumatic conveyors for Kockurnsbulk Co., an Australian engineering firm.
- Representatives of Carrington-based Dakota Growers Pasta Co. are negotiating an agreement to market Dreamfields pasta under the San Remo brand name. San Remo is the leading pasta company in Australia, dominating grocery aisles with 57 percent of market share.
“Developing business relationships is an important step toward increasing our export sales,” Hoeven said. “Our companies will lay the groundwork to expand our market share in parts of the world that hold significant possibilities for North Dakota producers.”
From March 12-18, Lt. Gov. Dalrymple, Susan Geib from the North Trade Office, James Burgum from the Governor’s Office and representatives of six North Dakota companies will be in Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand where they will meet with nine of Southeast Asia’s largest importers and processors of soy-based foods. The trade team’s goal is to develop new business relationships that lead to long-term sales of North Dakota-grown, food-grade soybeans.
“Market research shows that Southeast Asia holds enormous growth potential for soy-based foods and beverages,” said Susan Geib, executive director of the North Dakota Trade Office. “For the roughly half billion people in Southeast Asia, soy consumption is an integral part of their diet and culture.”
Malaysia and Thailand both rank among the top 15 largest importers of U.S. soybeans, and their demand continues to grow. The two countries and Singapore collectively imported about $135 million worth of U.S. soybeans last year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The delegates will meet with potential buyers that include Greenspot Ltd., Thailand’s largest producer of soymilk. Greenspot is building another production plant that will double the company’s current annual demand of 22,000 tons of food-grade soybeans. The trade team also will meet with officials at Unicurd Food Co., Singapore’s leading tofu maker, and Ace Canning Corp., a Malaysian company that imports about 4,400 tons of food-grade soybeans annually to produce a line of premium soymilk drinks.
To foster long-term relationships, the North Dakota Trade Office will coordinate a reverse mission to bring buyers of food-grade soybeans from Southeast Asia to North Dakota in October.
Both missions are sponsored by the North Dakota Trade Office with support from the Agricultural Products Utilization Commission, the U.S. Commercial Service and the U.S. Soybean Export Council.
Two North Dakota State University faculty members also are participating in the trade mission. Dr. Kow Chang, a researcher in NDSU’s Department of Cereal and Food Sciences, will provide technical assistance regarding the processing and nutritional profile of North Dakota-grown soybeans. Dr. David Lambert, chairman of the Department of Agribusiness and Applied Economics, will promote the state’s foreign student program.
The companies traveling to Southeast Asia are:
Agricultural Products Companies:
- Peterson Farms Seed, Harwood
- Richland Organics, Inc., Wahpeton
- Brushvale Seed Inc., Breckenridge
- Unity Seed Co., Casselton
- Sinner Bros. & Bresnahan, Casselton
- Buchholz Seed Farm, Durbin
Manufacturing Companies:
- Arrow-Tech, Rolla
- Solar Bee, Dickinson
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