North Dakota China Delegation

NEWS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 29, 2010



Contact: Don Canton or Jody Link

(701) 328-2200



Jeff Zent

N.D. Trade Office

(701) 231-1155



DALRYMPLE: SOYBEAN PRODUCERS FORGE NEW BUSINESS TIES IN INDONESIA, CHINA



BISMARCK, N.D. – A North Dakota trade mission to Indonesia and China last week has generated new business ties for six companies that produce and market food-grade soybeans.



Led by Lt. Gov. Jack Dalrymple, the trade mission took company officials to Jakarta, Indonesia and to the growing Chinese cities of Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Shanghai, where they held meetings with 26 of Asia’s largest soybean importers and soy food manufacturers. These include Amoy, a leading Asian producer of soy milk, and other soy-based foods; and PT Gerbang, Indonesia’s largest food-grade soybean dealer with annual imports of 700,000 metric tons.



In Shanghai, the North Dakota Soybean Council and North Dakota Trade Office sponsored a seminar to educate soybean importers and processors about the high quality and consistent supplies of food-grade soybeans grown in North Dakota. The seminar attracted 25 soy food industry leaders including Chen Hui Ying, president of the Shanghai Bean Curd Products Trade Association. Speakers included North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring and Dr. Sam Chang, a professor and plant scientist at North Dakota State University.



“Our producers have developed a reputation around the world for providing the highest quality supplies of food-grade soybeans and we continue to share that message so that we build long-term business ties where the best opportunities exist,” Dalrymple said.



China’s growing appetite for soy is outpacing its production, creating a trend toward long-term opportunities for the region’s producers, said Todd Sinner of SB&B Foods in Casselton, N.D. The Chinese and Indonesia markets also are ripe for development because of the countries’ growing economies, their young populations, their high consumption of tofu, soy sauces and other soy-based foods, and growing concerns over food safety.



Plans are to host in North Dakota a core group of the key importers and food processors in October to build on the relationships established during the trade mission, said Jason Martodam, a member of the North Dakota Soybean Council, which co-sponsored the trade mission’s soy foods tract.



In an effort to enhance transportation for exports, Dalrymple met in Hong Kong with C. H. Tung, the city’s first chief executive and owner of the Orient Overseas Container Lines (OOCL). Tung pledged his support in establishing economic ties between China and North Dakota.



The trade mission included leaders in the state’s energy industry, manufacturers and officials from Dickinson State University and North Dakota State University. Most of the delegates returned to North Dakota over the weekend.



The companies and organizations that participated in the trade mission are:



· SB&B Foods Inc., Casselton, N.D.

· Richland Organics, Inc., Wahpeton, N.D.

· Brushvale Seed Inc., Breckenridge, Minn.

· Unity Seed Co., Casselton, N.D.

· Buchholz Seed Farm, Durbin, N.D.

· Sun Opta, Moorhead, Minn.

· Gussiaas Farms, Carrington, N.D.

· Mattracks, Karlstad, Minn.

· Spectrum Aeromed, Fargo, N.D.

· North Dakota Soybean Council

· American Lignite Energy, LLC

· North American Coal Corp.

· North Dakota Lignite Research Council

· North Dakota State University

· Dickinson State University

· Bismarck-Mandan Chamber of Commerce



Many organizations and people in China and the United States assisted in developing the trade mission. Supporters include: AEA Holdings - Hong Kong, the North Dakota Department of Agriculture, the North Dakota Department of Commerce, the U.S. Commercial Service, USDA Foreign Agriculture Service, the North Dakota Soybean Council, the American Soybean Association and the Food Export Association of the Midwest.



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